rear derailer align...
 

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[Closed] rear derailer alignment tool

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Park one looks lovely, but Amazon is full of very similar looking ones for half the price. Do they do the job just as well or are you better spending the money? (on a lifeline...)


 
Posted : 06/03/2020 3:44 pm
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I've used a Park at work and a Lifeline at home. I prefer the latter.


 
Posted : 06/03/2020 3:47 pm
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I've got a cheap one, probably brand-x or lifeline or similar.

It's a bit of a PITA as the adjustable slidy bit has some play in it so getting it in the same place at different positions on the wheel is a bit of luck.


 
Posted : 06/03/2020 4:16 pm
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I also have one of the cheapies with a bit of play but it doesn’t really matter so long as you take care and I wouldn’t bet on the Park one being any better

in the same place at different positions on the wheel

Don’t you turn the wheel with the tool?  Just sort of rotate the whole lot and check they take the same path?


 
Posted : 06/03/2020 4:22 pm
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Don’t you turn the wheel with the tool? Just sort of rotate the whole lot and check they take the same path?

The derailleur hanger and hub axle aren't concentric.


 
Posted : 06/03/2020 4:27 pm
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And my wheel may not be 100% true either. I should probably RTFM shouldn’t I


 
Posted : 06/03/2020 4:31 pm
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R_B , Park agree with you ..

(2.29)

Looking like Lifeline, will be what I buy.
Cheers guys.


 
Posted : 06/03/2020 4:37 pm
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Mk I eyeball, for the use of.


 
Posted : 06/03/2020 4:42 pm
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You do indeed rotate the wheel with the tool. You must measure the same point on the rim to allow for a slight buckle.


 
Posted : 06/03/2020 4:42 pm
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Some people like Unior Tools
https://www.teamineos.com/sponsors/unior-tools

https://uniortools.com/eng/product/1602-5-hanger-genie

some people like Var tools
https://www.vartools.com/de/derailleur-hanger-alignment-gauge-var-p72.php

Some like Cyclo, Cyclus, etc


 
Posted : 06/03/2020 5:45 pm
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You do indeed rotate the wheel with the tool. You must measure the same point on the rim to allow for a slight buckle.

But it's still ~2" closer to the back of the wheel than the front as the mech hanger is ~1" off center.

I usually test it at ~10:30 and 4:30 positions where it's about equidistant first and if that's fine not worry about the rest so much.


 
Posted : 06/03/2020 5:49 pm
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Very easy to make your own, M10 fine thread bolt, nut and washers, a length of square bar and a rule.


 
Posted : 06/03/2020 5:49 pm
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Used the lifeline one a fair few times recently, what with eagle mechs being massive.
Works well though with no issues.


 
Posted : 06/03/2020 6:33 pm
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If you have an old wheel it can screw into the mech hanger, then use it to adjust until the intersects of the two wheel crossover points are equidistant (or rotate one point between the two crossover points).


 
Posted : 06/03/2020 6:38 pm
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thisisnotaspoon
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You do indeed rotate the wheel with the tool. You must measure the same point on the rim to allow for a slight buckle.

But it’s still ~2″ closer to the back of the wheel than the front as the mech hanger is ~1″ off center.

That's correct, but the "pin" on the 2 types ive used slide along it's shaft to allow for that. So you can test at 12, 3, 6 and 9 o'clock if you really needed/wanted to.


 
Posted : 06/03/2020 7:48 pm
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I always check at 4 positions. Corrects for both latitudinal and longitudinal variation.


 
Posted : 06/03/2020 7:52 pm

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