josephcallard Posted August 16, 2016 Report Share Posted August 16, 2016 Hi All, I'm pretty new to trials and bought a 26inch Marino second hand off here recently. I am struggling to set up the rear wheel in the horizontal dropouts because the drive side dropout seems bent. I can set the wheel up in the drop outs and it is straight (not closer to one chainstay or the other) but as soon as I tighten the drive side bolt the wheel turns towards the non-drive side. I have tried a different wheel in the drop outs and the same thing happens. Has anyone had any success re-aligning dropouts? I am hoping I can cold set it back to the right place as it is steel, any help would be great. Thanks, Joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdamR28 Posted August 16, 2016 Report Share Posted August 16, 2016 Yeah, you'll just be able to bend it back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
josephcallard Posted August 16, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 16, 2016 Any idea how best to do it? I tried with an adjustable spanner but i couldn't get the grip required, bench vice maybe? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdamR28 Posted August 16, 2016 Report Share Posted August 16, 2016 I would have gone with big adjustable - might need someone to help hold the frame down! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeff costello Posted August 16, 2016 Report Share Posted August 16, 2016 don't know whether marinos have snail cams, but shouldn't those be able to handle that? when the hub screws are tight everything should be flush anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
josephcallard Posted August 16, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 16, 2016 The hub has snail cams on it but they're just being used as spacers at the moment. there are screws on each side to adjust tension in the chain, I can set the wheel up with them but the wheel moves anyway as soon as I tighten it. I'll give Adams suggestion a go later. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Synergy Posted August 16, 2016 Report Share Posted August 16, 2016 some bike shops have steel frame alignment tools, might be worth popping in see if anyone can help you out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the ug man Posted August 17, 2016 Report Share Posted August 17, 2016 I second the bike shop option. best to get it done right first time. then damage the frame trying to fix it at home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdamR28 Posted August 17, 2016 Report Share Posted August 17, 2016 It's a steel frame... you'll be able to bend it back and forth multiple times without issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Synergy Posted August 17, 2016 Report Share Posted August 17, 2016 true but using a tool designed to bend it accurately is far better than bending it with a wrench assuming there is a local bike shop to the forum user lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdamR28 Posted August 17, 2016 Report Share Posted August 17, 2016 And that they have that tool. Can't confess to ever having seen one! Nowt wrong with a ruler and a big adjustable Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niconj Posted August 17, 2016 Report Share Posted August 17, 2016 Funny. I have never had a trials frame where the wheel doesn't move to one side or the other when tightening one bolt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeff costello Posted August 17, 2016 Report Share Posted August 17, 2016 (edited) 16 minutes ago, niconj said: Funny. I have never had a trials frame where the wheel doesn't move to one side or the other when tightening one bolt. my frame does it too. and i always had some problems with correct alignment. i finally watched the tarty vid on snail cams and saw my error: i did not tighten the first bolt before then centering the wheel with the second cam. on my frame (speedrace) i have to do it backwards: tighten the non-drive side first, then center and tighten the chain with the second cam. because the rim is already too far towards the non-drive side otherwise. minimally annoying, but ok. Edited August 17, 2016 by jeff costello Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cwtrials Posted August 17, 2016 Report Share Posted August 17, 2016 Frame alignment tools exist, park tool makes one. I used one at the bike shop when I worked at it like 15 years ago, they are still pretty rough around the edges Unless it is really bad, tightening one bolt then the other should be the way to go. I normally get the first bolt gently snug, adjust the other side, and then crank down the first side Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Synergy Posted August 17, 2016 Report Share Posted August 17, 2016 We had one in our bike shop, think it was used once in 7 years ha! Just came in the whole toolkit we ordered from parktool Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
josephcallard Posted August 17, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2016 I asked in my shop and they didn't have the tool, they told me to send it to Argos in bristol to sort it out, I'll just give it a go with a big old spanner. It's not unrideable but its a pain to get the back wheel set up each time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forteh Posted August 18, 2016 Report Share Posted August 18, 2016 A quick thought, you do have washers under the bolt heads don't you? If not then tightening the nuts against the dropout will cause it to move. Always nip up non-drive side first, then push the wheel sideways (near the BB) to centralise the wheel and tension the chain, nip up and tighten the drive side and then non-drive. Adjust till you get correct chain tension and wheel alignment. If the frame is slightly out of alignment I wouldn't bother trying to straighten it if you can get the wheel properly aligned and chain tensioned Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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