Derailleur hanger removal

dr.a

Hey all. I've been absent for quite a while! My problem is my old derailleur hanger, it has snapped in two. I've since attached a new one to the frame, however the problem is removing the halved old hanger from the derailleur itself (see pics)

No idea how to get it off, any tips? ^^

bilalakram123

well thats quite unfortunate. my advice would be to hold the end of the hanger firmly then use reasonably long allen key and put it in the big bolt on the derailleur and turn it counter clockwise. I m betting that the hanger will be done up pretty tightly, so you are going to need alot of force to start undoing it. the large bolt itself on the derailleur wont unscrew out of the derailleur as it is held in place but it should begin to come off the hanger.
Hope this helps!

bilalakram123

ive managed to break 3-4 hangers in the last 2 years, so ive had to replace them quite often . sometimes they come off easily but other times its quite hard. it really depends where it has snapped and how tightly it was done up.

dr.a

Thanks for the input guys. However, I am still unsure how I'd go about this. Am I inserting the allen key into the front or back?

bilalakram123

You are inserting the allen key into the front, the side that the derailleur hanger is NOT on. As you undo it the hanger should move away from the derailleur. That is why you need a reasonably long allen key, as if you think about it as most allen keys are L shaped, if you use the longer part of the L you will not get enough leverage to turn it using the short side. If you look at the first image you put it into the big silver nut that the wire is slightly blocking.

dr.a

Hey again. Sorry guys but this hanger is NOT coming off. I've tried several times, as have my friends etc and there's no give. I've resorted to hack-sawing it off but even at that the angle is too dodgy and can't give me a clean cut.

What on earth can I do now? The person who built the bike initially must of REALLY tightened it up.

supersonic

Try spraying Plus Gas or WD40 on the bolt. You need to grap the remnants of the hanger with mole grips when trying to remove.

bilalakram123

yeh i would try the spray that supersonic said first to loosen it up if possible.
If that doesnt work you could try using a really long allen key, maybe try sticking the end of the allen key in a pole with a narrow hole and lenghen it that way, or just buy a new allen key that is long and the right size, so you get alot more leverage to try and undo it.
It must be really tightly done up if you and you're friends cant get it off.
Sometimes when things are doen up really tightly, if you keep trying eventually you gradually manage to undo it, just randomly. Hope you manage to get it off. Must be a right pain!