Axle swap????

I have a tech question that I couldn't find an appropriate article for. I'm in the midst of converting an old Miyata ninety into a single speed. I prematurely ordered a new wheelset with a hub spacing of 130 mm QR. The spacing on the frame is 145 mm. Now I realize that I'm going to need a new axle (or am I?) as well as spacers to compensate for the off sizing. The problem is that I'm finding very little info on axle replacement and sizing for a freehub. Any advice you guys can offer me?

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Permalink Reply by adam shaffer on June 13, 2012 at 12:55pm

Home made alignment bolts? How do these work?

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Permalink Reply by James BlackHeron on June 13, 2012 at 1:09pm

Again, Sheldon says...

It's not as nice as the Park versions, but if you start with a known good (unbent) axle and cut it in half, and use the cone and locknuts that came with the axle what you have is a very accurate alignment gauge. They take a bit more of an educated eye to see the finer alignment issues but it isn't very hard if you have experience and a good eye.

I use a jeweler's loupe visor for close-in work. It's amazing that even brand new frames have little bit of misalignment that can be easily seen with such a home-made tool. If I can get dropouts better aligned with this tool than many frame manufacturers can with new bikes I will call that good.

My shop is a hobby shop just for my own pleasure as I enjoy working on bikes for myself and for friends and vetted clients. Much of the work I do is for charity or for causes I believe in -I'm not a big shop or anything close to an LBS. I wouldn't want to be. It's love, not a job. That'd ruin it.

But even so, I do own quite a few specialized tools -some that I've built myself, and some that I've purchased. Just today I bought a bottom bracket chasing and facing tool. Some stuff is just better to have rather than paying the friendly folks at the LBS to use their specialized tools (although I don't have a problem doing that either when I need it -they have to eat too.) I figured with a tool like a bottom bracket chase & face tool it'll pay for itself in a few uses. But I can't make something like that out of an old axle like I can with the drop-out alignment tool

I can't justify buying the $400 Pork tool when the old axles work nearly as well. I only do an alignment like this every month or so. If I did it every day i'd own the Park version.

adam shaffer said: