cursed gears....

[novocaine]

Do you need the highly specialist tool to do this right? Wondering whether my standard approach of eyeballing is working or just haven't come across a bent one yet!

no 1 eyeball is fine for a check, but I've found the tool to be very very useful.
I made my own from a length of 1" box section and rear wheel axle. the 2 kids bikes I've just serviced were so far out that it was obvious they wouldn't shift just from an eyeballing, but the tool was needed to set it.

 

[2manyoranges]

NovoC - good internal routing (Commencal, Transition) is fine. The BadBoy however, has a nasty, cheap liner which goes internally around the BB, and has be constantly lubed (nightmare) to keep it running well.

 

[d8mok]

Do you need the highly specialist tool to do this right? Wondering whether my standard approach of eyeballing is working or just haven't come across a bent one yet!

I’ve got the tool which was around £30 and has paid for itself easily over the last couple of years. You’d be amazed how many hangers are bent.

 

[xtaffa]

I’ve got the tool which was around £30 and has paid for itself easily over the last couple of years. You’d be amazed how many hangers are bent.

What one have you got? Last time I looked at this the one from park was eighty odd quid, which did feel a step beyond calling in at lbs if/when shifting was shafted. But at those monies, I'd get one!

 

[novocaine]

What one have you got? Last time I looked at this the one from park was eighty odd quid, which did feel a step beyond calling in at lbs if/when shifting was shafted. But at those monies, I'd get one!

A quick check on amazon for "hanger alignment tool" brings up a host of them for between 30 and 50 quid that didn't exist when I made my own.

NovoC - good internal routing (Commencal, Transition) is fine. The BadBoy however, has a nasty, cheap liner which goes internally around the BB, and has be constantly lubed (nightmare) to keep it running well.

replace it with PTFE or teflon mig welder liner.

 

[markoc]

Singlespeed FTW. Or DX thumbies without the clicky bit engaged.

I can't be doing with indexing - its a black art, and the LBS gladly rinses me every time my modern bike needs fettling.

 

[d8mok]

What one have you got? Last time I looked at this the one from park was eighty odd quid, which did feel a step beyond calling in at lbs if/when shifting was shafted. But at those monies, I'd get one!

Mine is a X tools from CRC.

 

[mattr]

Do you need the highly specialist tool to do this right? Wondering whether my standard approach of eyeballing is working or just haven't come across a bent one yet!

Eyeballing works well enough for 8 and 9 speed, but once you get into 10 11 12 the calibrated eyeball is no longer good enough.
I reckon on new frames somewhere between 30 and 50% are bent, or at least not accurately made/installed.
I got a lifeline tool about 15 years ago, for about 15 quid.
Every hanger I had was slightly tweaked...

 

[mattr]

And I'm pretty sure that some bike assembly workshops make it a point of pride to do as much wrong on each build as they physically can...

 

[hamster]

Agreed with @mattr - my LBS replaces hangers as a matter of course on any bike with tetchy shifting and 10 speeds or more. Essentially not doing so is a wild goose chase.