reynolds 501/531 frames
- Thread starter busdennis
- Start date
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accountantpete
Brexiteer
Some are so spaced - you can get the more modern steel bikes with 130mm
If you have a 126 and need a 130 then you need to cold set the frame - here's Sheldon
http://sheldonbrown.com/frame-spacing.html
If you have a 126 and need a 130 then you need to cold set the frame - here's Sheldon
http://sheldonbrown.com/frame-spacing.html
PpPete
Legendary Member
- Location
- Chandler's Ford
126 to 130mmm doesn't need cold setting. You can spring the drop-outs apart that far with your fingers to re-install a wheel without difficulty.
Some older frames are 120 mm though. That does need cold-setting.
Personally I prefer pushing the drop-outs apart with nuts & penny washers on a length of threaded rod (which doubles as a makeshift headset press).
Much more controllable (and easier to maintain symmetry) than attacking it with a length of timber as recommended by Sheldon.
On a 531 frame you probably need to wind the nuts out to 145mmm or beyond because the spring-back is massive.
Mickle will be along soon to advise against though, on grounds that drop-out faces will no longer be parallel, and that everything will go tits-up as a result.
I can only say that having cold-set several frames by both methods (and once over-cooked it with Sheldon's method, and subsequently bending it back) I've yet to see any failures even after several thousand km.
Some older frames are 120 mm though. That does need cold-setting.
Personally I prefer pushing the drop-outs apart with nuts & penny washers on a length of threaded rod (which doubles as a makeshift headset press).
Much more controllable (and easier to maintain symmetry) than attacking it with a length of timber as recommended by Sheldon.
On a 531 frame you probably need to wind the nuts out to 145mmm or beyond because the spring-back is massive.
Mickle will be along soon to advise against though, on grounds that drop-out faces will no longer be parallel, and that everything will go tits-up as a result.
I can only say that having cold-set several frames by both methods (and once over-cooked it with Sheldon's method, and subsequently bending it back) I've yet to see any failures even after several thousand km.
biggs682
Touch it up and ride it
- Location
- Northamptonshire
some more olders ones might not be but most of them are 126 and with carefull easing you should be able to squeeze a 130 rear wheel in
gbb
Legendary Member
- Location
- Peterborough
With care it shouldnt be a problem, i opened a 531 frame from 126 to 135 using the lump of wood method. No issues with dropout or hanger alignment, the only thing that concerned me was the rear brake bridge which is a drilled tube on my Clubman. Its quite slender and i became concerned it was going to seperate from the stays so i used a big jubilee clip to clamp it all together while i was bending, Probably quite uneccessary, but you know how it is when a thought gets in your head,
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
If its a late 80's onwards steel frame it will be 130mm. Easy to set if not.
