Mech Hanger Tool - worth buying?

[TheFungle]

Currently have three bikes which all get ridden regularly, been having shift issues at one point or another on most most of them, some easy to solve, some not so.

Is it worth the home mechanic having a hanger alignment tool? Wiggle do theirs for £25, Park is £55.

LBS generally charge >£15 should gears require looking at.

[CoolC]

I saw a great ghetto version on YouTube the other week.

Two pieces of threaded bar. One through the dropouts, one through the hanger and tweak the hanger one until both are in line in each direction.

I'll try and find it again.

Edit.
https://youtu.be/WS2vd8N1Vos

[964Cup]

I bought one. Gets used more often than you'd think. Most recently when I snapped the chain on a hill; mech didn't move much, but enough to make it worth re-aligning.

[IroningMan]

I have a cheap and cheerful one from somewhere or other; it requires a little care to compensate for the play in the fittings but still gets used quite regularly - well worth the outlay.

[Magic919]

I've bought one now. Replaced a bent hanger the other day. Found the Park Tools one for £46.52 inc postage on eBay.

[TheInternet]

I have had success screwing a wheel in place of the derailleur and adjusting until the two wheels are parallel. There's a video of this method on YouTube. The proper tools are obviously better but seem very expensive for what they are.

[outnumbered]

CoolC said:

I saw a great ghetto version on YouTube the other week.

Two pieces of threaded bar. One through the dropouts, one through the hanger and tweak the hanger one until both are in line in each direction.

I'll try and find it again.

Edit.
https://youtu.be/WS2vd8N1Vos

That's an interesting idea, but it must depend on the mech hangar being relatively flimsy. I think with at least one of mine, the rod would probably bend first as the hangar is really chunky.

[r-kid]

TheInternet said:

I have had success screwing a wheel in place of the derailleur and adjusting until the two wheels are parallel. There's a video of this method on YouTube. The proper tools are obviously better but seem very expensive for what they are.

This is my method as well.

[Jimbo.]

Yes. Buy between a group of you if needs be. All well and good having the latest piece of shifting bling, but if it's mounting is on the piss shifting will never be perfect and it'll be money wasted.