Help a layman - 120 hub to 126 frame

[unicanitor]

I ask this as something of a layman to fixed gear bikes having previously only ever ridden a geared bike. Any help would be gratefully recieved.

I recently acquired a pair of Campagnolo track wheels with the intentions of building up an old ALAN frame as fixed. Dropped the ball somewhat in overlooking the hubs are 120mm and the rear spacing on the ALAN 126mm.

Photograph below shows the wheel 'centred' and the obvious spacing issues not to mention the lack of thread to put the track nuts on.

Is it a case of being able to replace the axle with a longer one and respacing? Having the frame 'modified' to 120, aluminium? Or am i clutching at straws and trying to fit something completely unsuitable?

Thanks in advance for any help.

:?

 

[Broady]

3mm washer on each side?

 

[unicanitor]

Yeah i see what you're saying, looking at it again there doesn't seem to be enough thread on the outside to get a single spline of the track nuts on owing to them having a built in washer which was what made me think a longer axle might be required :? :?:

 

[GordonB]

If this is a bonded Alan frame I would suggest you do not try to squeeze the rear forks, respacing these frames runs the risk of damage.

Gordon

 

[Midlife]

I'd think about buying a longer spindle and space it out each side to keep the dish correct..........or am I missing something ?

Shaun

 

[wriggles]

What Midlife Shaun says. New Axle, 2 x 3mm washers. Sorted & Easy to do.

An aluminium frame will not like being squeezed even by a little.

 

[nammonk]

wblenkin (Wayne) on lfgss had a pile of Campag axles etc. recently. Might be worth a try.

Tangential: sorry I couldn't get out of work to post the saddle today but it is packed and ready to go tomorrow morning.

Nick

 

[GordonB]

Just had a thought, you're building this up as a fixie? If the Alan frame is anything like many others I've seen the dropouts are short and near vertical, which means they do not lend themselves to running fixed as there's almost no scope to adjust chain tension. Obviously I could be barking up the wrong tree here because all you've posted is a shot of the underside of the dropouts but you need to check you have enough adjustability before going any further.

Personally, I would flog the Alan - they fetch good money - and with the proceeds buy a track frame or one with long horizontal dropouts. You might even have money to spare!

Gordon

 

[unicanitor]

Many thanks for all the advice. My intital thoughts were the same on closing the rear up, i really couldn't have chosen a worse frame in that respect :roll: Pinching it manually shows there's some give there but at the same time an obvious resistance from the brake bridge.

I'm really in two minds about whether to sell or go the route of a longer axle, the frame itself is very simple to look at being an early version - no brake routes on the crossbar or mount on the downtube. I'd quite like to stick with it if i can. Dropout wise they're horizontal about 2.5cm length.

No problem at all on the saddle btw

At the risk of this sounding incredibly stupid, what size axle should i be looking for a standard 126mm item? Would they not normally be a skewer type?

 

[nammonk]

I've got one in a Suntour Superbe track hub that is long enough to space at 126. You could have a go with that to see if it is going to work or not. Or I can at least measure it up for you.
Nick