1977 Raleigh Scorpio rear dropout repair

[maxrodgers]

Hi everyone,

I picked up a Raleigh Scorpio for next to nothing the other day as a bit of a project. I noticed that the rear wheel was sliding out of the dropout on the drive side and the freewheel was contacting the chainstay. Removing the rear wheel and mech it was clear that the problem is a dropout that has been stretched open, possibly from an impact or the mech being pulled into the spokes maybe. The frame is steel so should bend back fairly easily but I cannot work out a good method for trying to straighten it. My pliers are all too narrow to grip the dropout effectively and there is no room for my adjustable wrench. The particular shape of the dropout makes it difficult to try and clamp it in a vice. I was wondering if anyone has experienced anything similar or could suggest a tool that might do the job? Thanks for any help you can provide.

 

[Mod-Master]

Hammers always do the job



(Kidding, maybe hammers aren’t the best choice)

 

[maxrodgers]

I was considering it if I had no other choice. Small taps with a mallet. Would that be a terrible idea?

 

[jim haseltine]

Clamp the mudguard eye section (and more if possible) in a vice with the bent part of the dropout facing upwards. Light taps with a hammer should bring it back into line. There is a good chance that the stretched metal will bow outwards (or possibly inwards) a bit so you may need to tap the face flat again. Sometimes it's a case of repeating the processes until the stretched metal has been shrunk down.

 

[Jonny69]

A length of thick pipe over the dropout ought to do the trick

 

[KermitGKona88]

Slip joint pipe pliers, one end in the hole other on the bottom of the dropout squeeze gently.

 

[maxrodgers]

Thanks for the suggestions so far, I will weigh them up and post when I’ve given them a try.

 

[maxrodgers]

Thanks again everyone for the helpful advice. I picked up a pair of pipe pliers (thanks for the suggestion KermitGKona88 and they did the job nicely. I ended up bending the dropout slightly out of vertical alignment, as you can just about tell from the pictures, but that was easily bent back. I hope this helps anyone with a similar problem in the future.