Bent Mech Hanger

[Progressive]

I have recently acquired a Merida Speeder T1 flat bar road bike. It is only a couple of years old and hasn’t seen much use. The bike is in great overall condition, apart from the mech hanger which is well and truly bent, as I found out when it shifted straight into the spokes.

What is the best way to get the bike back on the road? Take the hanger off and have a go at straightening it or source a new part? Any suggestions on how to find which exact part and where to order it from?

I might not use the bike myself but seems a shame to see it go to waste due to one defective part! If all else fails I’ll strip it for parts, although repairing it would be the optimum solution.

Cheers!

[GaryGlitter]

Replace, easy enough to do and unless you've got engineering skills to ensure it's perfectly aligned it'll never be quite right.

Wiggle sell replacement derailleur hangers for your bike, D78 type, according to a google search.

[gazza285]

I bend mine back, if they aren't too bad, using a spare rear axle. Never had much trouble getting the gears to index after.

[ecsrobin]

Mech hangars are so cheap it's worth just buying a new one. And whilst your at it buy a second as a backup.

[Progressive]

Thanks for the responses. Replacement is £18.99 on Wiggle. Going to bash it with a hammer, stick it back on and see if I have any luck. If not, 10 minutes lost and I'll order a new one.

Thanks again.

[Gren]

I get mine from here : http://gearmechhanger.com/

They always arrive the next day and are good quality. Carry spares for both of our bikes on all rides now - even though I only break around 1 a year they are small and light enough not to notice in the Camelbak

[neilr]

Buy a new one if you're not sure. I recently had a mech decide to launch itself into the rear wheel (fortunately at slow speed).

Once i got the wheel repaired and put a new mech on i couldnt get it all sorted without the cage round the jockey wheels slightly rubbing spokes when in the biggest sprocket. The hanger looked fine to the naked eye. I put a new hanger on - all is working properly again.

Not worth the potential damage IMHO for the sake of a few quid.

[TheInternet]

Progressive said:

Thanks for the responses. Replacement is £18.99 on Wiggle. Going to bash it with a hammer, stick it back on and see if I have any luck. If not, 10 minutes lost and I'll order a new one.

Thanks again.

I suspect you're unlikely to get it straight enough that way. Fine tuning can be achieved on the bike with an alignment tool or using a spare wheel/axle as mentioned above.

[MadDad]

Buy a new one, don't mess around trying to straighten the old one out. I had a slightly bent hanger on my winter bike a couple of years ago, I put it between two bits of wood and straightened it out (with quite a bit of effort), in a vice - seemed fine so I re-fitted it.

First ride out and an hour or so in it snapped just as I was changing up gears throwing the mech into the rear wheel, resulting in a trashed rear wheel, rear mech, cable, tyre, cadence/speed sensor and a few bruises. Once in the LBS they showed me the fracture running through the middle of the hangar caused by fatigue of bending it back into shape.

For the sake of £12 (in my case), it cost me over £300 to put right - for the cost of £20 I personally would not risk it.