Finally fixed my derailleur hanger after 3 tries...

I kept having that skipping chain problem on my commuter bike, especially when I'd go up the hill near Elm Street. Took it to the shop once and they said the hanger was bent. I tried bending it back myself using a cheap alignment tool from Amazon and made it worse the first time. Second time I watched a video from Park Tool and got it close but still not perfect. Third time I took it slow, checked with the gauge after every little bend, and it finally shifts smooth. Cost me $18 for the tool but saved a shop visit and I learned something. Has anyone else had luck straightening their own hanger or is it just me?

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paulb982mo ago

Dude yes, this is exactly the kind of thing that drives me nuts. I bent my hanger on my old mountain bike after smacking a rock on the trail, and my first attempt with a crescent wrench just made it worse. Second try I bought that same Park Tool gauge and it took me like an hour of tiny tweaks and checking. Finally got it perfect and it shifted better than before. That $18 tool paid for itself in one use for sure.

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charlesowens2mo ago

Wait, have you ever had that moment where you think you fixed something and then it just gets worse? I had a buddy who tried straightening his hanger with a pair of pliers and a hammer. He ended up snapping the whole thing off and had to order a new one online. Took him two weeks to get it and he missed a big group ride. I just laughed and told him the gauge tool saves headaches. Some lessons are hard to learn I guess.

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