Snapped dropout: repair options?

[Scilly Suffolk]

Unshipped the chain into the spokes, which locked-up and pulled the derailleur up and into the wheel snapping the dropout in the process, along the line of the adjuster screw.

It's only my beater Winter bike (1980's Raleigh, 531 main tubes, £50 for the whole bike), so I'm not too pissed off and I've had my money's worth from it.

I'd rather not skip it though, it's a perfectly decent hack. Getting the dropout replaced is certainly feasible and I was even thinking of getting track fork ends put in while I was at it.

Having a quick check online though it looks like it would cost £100-odd. I'm sure I could get the price down a bit, but even so that's a fair whack to spend on a modest frame.

Is this the sort of job that a competent engineering company could do, or does it need a jig?

Any other options/opinions/advice?

 

[vernon]

Replacing a drop out does require a jig or a very experienced frame builder. You also need to have the frame resprayed as the paint will be damaged by the heat.

I had a rear drop out fracture in Chorley when I was doing a Lands End to John o Groats. I had it repaired by Bill Nickson, the last British winner of the Milk race who masterfully weilded a brazing torch and brazed to broken piece back on. He declined to offer any sort of warrantee as it ought to have been replaced with a new drop out. He also declined to accept any money.

The second time that I had a drop out fail, I was touring along the Loire. I did the reckoning up and decided that purchasing a new bike was a better proposition as it was only marginally more expensive than a repair/refurb - the drive train and wheels were due for replacement when I got back.

You'd probably find it cheaper to source a s/h frame.

 

[Scilly Suffolk]

Thanks Vernon.

I agree that another frame would be the sensible option, I just hate to bin something that is otherwise in good shape...

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

If your going to throw it anyway, is it not worth having a go? Brazing is not hard, you could either buy a drop out or patiently make your own with a dremmel.

 

[Scilly Suffolk]

I hadn't thought of that! I'll look into it...

 

[djb1971]

Get yourself to a local car boot sale. There's loads of bikes that you could swap your kit over to. There's a lot of shoot to sort through but there's sometimes half decent frames that would be less hassle than eBay etc..

 

[thegravestoneman]

If it's only main tubes that are 531, the stays won't be to sensitive to being over heated so taking some of the risk away.

 

[Scilly Suffolk]

I've got other frames, that's not my problem: it just seems a waste to bin an otherwise servicable frame.

It looks like a DIY job is the way forward...

 

[accountantpete]

This guy cuts the drop-out in half and takes each out separately.

http://www.oakcycles.com/2011/07/dropout-replacement/

 

[Scilly Suffolk]

I hadn't considered that. Only the bottom of the drop-out snapped so both ends are still in place.

Beginning to look like a DIY job is beyond me...

 

[MontyVeda]

I agree with Bromptonfb, incidents like this are the reason we were taught metalwork at school... braze the fecker back on!

 

[thegravestoneman]

A decent engineering company should be able to do the job just talk to them, they won't take it on if they cant. it might be worth removing a drop out from a completely goosed frame to have that put in?

 

[Scilly Suffolk]

The broken part? That's twisted beyond use.

Looking at the link Pete posted, I think I'd have trouble getting the old one out without a cutting torch: a hacksaw could be tedious.