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Dropout screw question

Old 08-28-19, 07:58 AM
  #1  
speedevil 
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Dropout screw question

This may seem like an odd question, but should the spring on the dropout screw be on the inside or the outside? Or does it depend on the length of the compressed spring and where the axle needs to be located?

I have 3 frames with these screws and 2 have the spring on the inside and 1 on the outside.

Just OCD I guess, like a lot of us inmates here.
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Old 08-28-19, 08:00 AM
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I think it's only OCD if you start polishing or chroming the springs.
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Old 08-28-19, 08:07 AM
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inside the do
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Old 08-28-19, 08:10 AM
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I agree that it depends on which side (inside or outside) has the most threads exposed.
I've mentioned before that I actually prefer installing the screws backwards, with the removable "cap" against the axle. This for three reasons:
1) The cap provides a nice, smooth surface for the axle to sit against
2) This allows a screwdriver to access the screw slot from the outside, without removing the wheel completely, and
3) I never lose any of the screw on caps this way.
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Old 08-28-19, 09:25 AM
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It's SUPPOSED to be spring-on-inside because that's expected to be where you will typically have more exposed threaded length and the purpose is to act as a big "spring/lock washer" to prevent unwanted movement of that screw. Tho a little rusting and bending will do that naturally! The caps being on the outside end is so you could turn the screw clockwise (moving axle stop forward in the DO) with no tools but moving it back (CCW) requires a small screwdriver and the slot clear of the wheel so much more intentional. These are "rules" based on the expected use but obviously the spring can also function as "lock-washer" on either side of the DO and if you find you need to move the screw both CW and CCW with the wheel in place having the slot on the outside will work for you. My small tip: I like to replace nuts with nylock-type locking nuts that may not look as slick but don't come loose...when I can find them in (metric) stainless steel, even better!
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Old 08-28-19, 10:31 AM
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I have a Moser with Moser dropouts. The holes are not threaded. There is a c-shaped insert that is threaded and goes inside the dropout. The spring has to be on the outside for this to work properly. All my other frames have the spring inside.
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Old 08-28-19, 11:04 AM
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I sometimes trim the springs so I can move the axle further back.
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Old 08-28-19, 01:00 PM
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It works either way, put the spring where there is the most thread. I pushed the axle way back on a bike to get a RD that supposedly maxed out at 26t, according to the installation sheet, to shift up to a 28t cog. It’s like handlebar tape, bottom up, or top down, which ever works best for you, Bicycle correctness police be damned.
Tim
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Old 08-28-19, 01:05 PM
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Andrew Gillis has a great trick - set the wheel where you want it and then cut the screw with about 3/16" sticking out, dab of Loctite and then thread the cap on, so it's flush against the dropout.

and to answer the question posed by the OP - spring goes on the inside.

Dave Levy at TiCycles makes stainless steel hardware that duplicates the original, nice and shiny and probably stronger. Available on ebay.

Mark Petry
Bainbridge Island, WA USA
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Old 08-28-19, 03:36 PM
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Originally Posted by speedevil
This may seem like an odd question, but should the spring on the dropout screw be on the inside or the outside? Or does it depend on the length of the compressed spring and where the axle needs to be located?

I have 3 frames with these screws and 2 have the spring on the inside and 1 on the outside.

Just OCD I guess, like a lot of us inmates here.
Ermmm, it CDO, at least keep things in alphabetical order so we don't get twitchy and try to edit something we can't......

Bill
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Old 08-28-19, 04:21 PM
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Originally Posted by qcpmsame
Ermmm, it CDO, at least keep things in alphabetical order so we don't get twitchy and try to edit something we can't......

Bill
Yes, but in descending order of degrees of arc of the curved portion of the letter, it goes right back to OCD.
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