My son is 13 years old, so obviously I needed this video. I bought the tool and fixed it myself this time. Thanks for the excellent video and clear instruction!
Great video, well explained, straight to the point and easy to follow! Did this today after dealing with rattling noises which neither cleaning, shifting adjustments nor a new chain could fix - and indeed, the derailleur was bent! A tiny adjustment has fixed all the rattling and shifting hick-ups, and I cannot tell you just how much of a RELIEVE it was! So worth it! And now my partner is eager to check his bikes as well as he's had a collision with a branch in the spokes a while back. Thank you Park Tool for your educational videos and thanks Calvin for explaining it so well. Your videos have already saved me a bunch of times! They always leave me with a pretty good idea of what needs to be done - competent, capable and confident!
Just got mine today, and after removing the derailleur from the hanger, and following this video closely, I can't believe it. It was imperceptibly bent inwards, which the bike being new, the hanger was bent imperceptibly during shipping. Not uncommon, but I could've sworn it was aligned by eye. I could not have been more wrong. It was definitely bent, and this tool got the bike shifting so damn smooth it's ridiculous. I'm glad I just dropped the $80 on this awesome tool instead of buying a chain, and this and that. Nothing I did following Park Tool's video on derailleur adjustment really got it smoothed out. Because the dang hanger was bent. NICE JOB Park Tools! :) I also own their small beam torque wrench, and man that makes that easy, too.
I've had shifting problems for 2 years and could not get my gears lined up. Finally bought this tool and took me 20 min to sort this out. Came of my bike a few times and landed on the rear derailleur. Great tool to have in your bike box. Thanks for the great video.
YOU ARE THE MAN!!!!!!! The hanger was bent and I was able to straighten it using an accurate straightedge held against the "flat" of the hanger. Thank you, Calvin and thank you, Park Tool.
i have 2 spare hangers, i have bolts on each one of them, but you can use the bolts from the original to install the spare if you are careful not to loose them in the grass on the trail side
Used it today to sort a friends bike. Took about 5 mins. Interestingly enough two other bike mechanics were not able to sort the gear skipping issues. 2nd bike I have sorted using this tool, so its paid for itself already
Thank you for all of your videos! I'm ordering one of these tools now and can't believe I've been without this! Should take care of a lot of shifting issues, as I mostly ride rough rocky trails with derailleur strikes being rather common.
The last two bikes I have purchased (brand spanking new) came with hanger alignment issues. And with these big ass cassettes we are using these days, alignment is critical. I have the older model DAG-1, and it fits nicely in my travel toolbox.
It's not necessarily the size of the cassette (you're talking about tooth count, right?). It's more about the spacing between cogs. Now that we are have 12 speeds, the spacing is very small which reduces the amount of tolerable error.
I finally fixed my bike. I shot a laser parallel with my frame then measured to make sure my rear tire was in-line with my frame and come to find out it was 1/2" off so I used a dremel to grind the hanger about 1/8" back so the tire axle can go back on one side making my tire in a straight line. I then used this hanger tool to align my hanger. I got everything to 1/8" and WHAT A DIFFERENCE. Instead of only being able to shift half my gears and have them pop out of gear all the time it shifts like a Ferrari. I brought my bike to 3 bike shops and multiple times to those shops. Everyone just gave my bike back charged me for a tuneup and nothing ever changed......If you want it done right do it yourself!!! Im happy :)
Calvin, thanks man! I’ve had shifting issues with one of my roads bikes that I picked up used. Sure enough, the hanger was bent. Your video helped me and my DAG-2.2 get things squared away 🚲👍🏻
I balked at the price but I use that tool way more than I figured I would. If you want to maintain your bike yourself, you need one. And like he says, I found out the hard way that hangers can be hard to get, so always keep one on hand. Loved the rock, all my derailleurs end up like that I think, lol.
I just realigned my hanger using the parktool tool and this guide... this US version is better and direct to the point than the UK counterpart that has lots of talking. 😅
My old frame doesn’t have a replaceable hanger. Changing gear on the second and third from largest cog doesnt index correctly. Hopefully my alignment tool will arrive today, and ill not break the hanger off. Thanks for this video, hopefully things will work out for me. Update- derailleur hanger was bent, now straight thanks to park tools
I dont have a derailleur hanger ( cheap bike). My derailleur is welded into the bike frame. While bunnyhopping i fell down and saw that the derailleur was bent towards the spokes of the wheel. I just simply adjusted the barrel adjuster and shifts just fine with only half a second delay. If u dint have tools try turning ur barrel adjuster to match the derauiller wheel with the cogs. Works fineeeee asss hell.
Probably because your hanger wasn't terribly bent. If the damage is bad enough it can send your derailer into your spokes which could royally fuck your rear wheel and and total your derailer! You can also eat shit into oncoming traffic. Happy your bike works again but that's just false economy! Cheers
Hice todo como lo dijeron pero por alguna razón la brecha de 3mm no me funciona tan bien, teniendo en cuenta de que tengo el grupo 105 completo. Baje la brecha a 2mm en los 4 puntos y ahora tiene la respuesta de un Dura-ace. Creo que deberían aclarar que los 3mm, son para menos de 10 velocidades, y los de 2mm para mas de 10 velocidades.
Derailleur hangers are intentionally designed as sacrificial pieces of equipment. they are like electric circuit breaker. hangers are designed to be strong enough to do it's job, and also to bend and brake, in case of crash or bash. The main idea here is that the force from the impact, regardless of the source of the impact, will follow the path on least resistance. The hanger is designed to vividly manifest itself as the path of least resistance, so it draws the force of the impact onto itself. the idea behind this design is to protect the frame and the derailleur from being bent or broken. If you think, this sacrificial piece saves you a frame, a derailleur and the hassle of replacing frame or equipment.... and the pile of money related to all this hassle.
Everybody should always have two in possession, one on the bike and another on standby. This is what almost nobody buys whenever they get a new bike or frameset.
I'm used gravel bike MARIN GESTALT x10.had the same problem,my chain rubbing the cassete after i fall the bike.slowly cycling back to home,and after check,my frame (dropout) was bent at the RD point,but the hanger are still ok.i used the adjustable spanner,to alignment back the dropout frame.almost 1 year,i never face any problem.but to have a SPARE HANGER,i think its a best idea.cant imagine if i'm broken it in the way long from my home and in the deep of forest..
Why you did not use a simple water leve gauge on the bar hanging instead of the using the rims for the alingment, thas what I would do actually..thanks :)
Usually lubing the chain adequately will spread the lube everywhere the chain might go. Just shift to all the gears next time you clean and oil the chain
My bicycle is 6 years old. I have been having chain skipping in the back middle cogs, 3,4,5 mostly. I replaced the hanger, the cassette, the front crankset, and the derailleur. rear cogs 1,2,6,7,8 are ok. It makes my rides much less fun. I have adjusted the limits and the derailleur 20 times and it does not skip in the shop, only when I am riding, I don't know what to do next.
Did you try replacing your chain? A worn chain will wear out the sprockets, then if you replace the sprockets but not the chain, or the chain but not the sprockets, you'll get chain skipping.
Good question. Not a good answer. By sight is how. However, not all derailleurs are designed to be "straight and square". View the cage from the top, and the back, as it a three dimensional issue. Compare the suspect model to a new one. Repair is a different issue. The cheaper the derailleur, the more likely bending back may help. Those are not typically the ones to worry about.
eh, i thought I did this exactly like shown but I think it's not going into the smallest cog due to something with the lever, It feels different when trying to get to that last one when shifting.
Yes it is. Carbon Bikes have a softer aluminum hanger so that if it breaks it does not ruin the frame. Proper alignment of that hanger is crucial to the operation of any shifting system.
Is it advisable to use the straightening technique on a carbon frame? Does that risk messing up the drop-out or rear triangle? Or is it better to just replace the hanger if it's bent?
Good question. Aluminum and steel both have a yield point below their point of failure, or tensile point. You can bend both materials quite successfully. However with carbon fiber the yield point is equal to its tensile point. Carbon fiber flex certainly, but the point where it flexes enough to deform and stay bent is equal to the point where it breaks. Second however, it is very rare to see a carbon fiber hanger. These are aluminum, and will take a permanent set. It is done daily with good results. Third however, new hangers are most always made straight. However, the frames are not a consistent. So installing a new hanger on the bike it is best to check alignment. The fitting on the frames are not always perfect, so a new hanger will sit differently on different frames.
@@parktool 4th however. often alignment issues with new hangers can be a result of neglecting to take care and cleaning the hanger bed in the frame and some piece of dirt can keep the derailleur out o alignment, creek and introduce potential for unwanted movement. if derailleur is not well seated because of dirt, this means some screw will not have gripped properly and cause further issues
I managed to snap my hanger 😕 the frame and broken hanger has three fastener holds but I have a replacement hanger that fits but only two fastener holes. Would this be ok to use if the shape fits?
Hi, my derailleur has the hanger as a part of it, so it's not detachable and looks kinda like a hook. It has a screw for tightening and that's it. How would I go and straighten it out? Thanks!
Same here. as Much as I Love Park tool I Just Ordered a copy cat X-Tools Pro Gear Hanger Alignment Tool. its on Clarence $35 + shipping on Chain reaction Cycles..
Question for the Park Tools gurus. I have used the alignment tool successfully for derailleurs that are easily removed from the hanger. I am now faced with a Shimano 7 speed derailleur that doesn't expose the bolt connecting the derailleur to the hanger. It is covered by a piece of plastic and the two limit screws. How do I get to the bolt to separate the derailleur from the hanger? Help!!! :-)
There are certainly models that have use a "bolt on hanger", which attaches to the open face of the dropout. Generally older bikes and less expensive bikes do this. The pivot of the derailleur is riveted to this bracket, and there is no bolt to remove and thread the DAG-2.2 into. If so, some careful use of a pair of slip joint pliers and a steady hand can bring it back enough.
How do you align the new shimano derailluers with the bracket axle? Do you just adjust the hanger same as usual or do you adjust it with the bracket axle installed? Thanks
I’m here because I think this is why I’m having problems shifting to the larger sprocket I’ve adjusted the derailleur cable barrels many times and it just refuses to shift to larger cog it just clicks
