pe6600

Hello,
My rear derailleur got bent and my chain snapped but have no clue how to replace them and derailleurs seem quite expensive, so my question is could i put a new chain on without having it go through the rear derailleur? My bike has 3 gears in the front and 8 in the back so if i like just pick some middle-ish gears and just put a chain around them and just never switch gears could that potentialy work? Im sorry if thats a stupid idea and a stupid question but i just thought it may work. Thanks for any suggestions in advance <3

sour01

Is the RD bent or just the hanger or the dropout? Hangers aren’t expensive. Don’t know what kind of bike you have but dropouts can be realigned on steel bikes. I’d take it to your local bike shop to get their ideas on options. I’m not so sure about your remedy.

jbucky1

In theory yes you could just wrap a chain around. In practice it often doesn't work that good - I have seen a lot of hobo bikes like this in the place I work.

If you have horizontal dropouts in the rear it can work but I highly doubt you do.

If you really wanted to go the single gear route toy would need something to tension the chain also. Kinda like what is in here:

https://www.amazon.com/Forte-Lightin...=fsclp_pl_dp_3

jbucky1

Assuming the frame is not bent. Best thing to do would be

1) buy a new derailleur hanger
2) if the rear derailleur mechanism is bent / trash then buy a new derailleur
3) buy a new chain

pe6600

Oh wow, thank you for the quick responses. I guess i will be a normal human being and just fix it properly.

JohnDThompson 

In principle, it would work, but only with a single gear. In order to use multiple gears, you need the derailleur to move the chain to the new gear and accommodate any change in chain length by wrapping more or less chain.

So, pick a gear that suits your riding, trim the chain to the length needed, and ride.

N.B. this is easiest if your frame has horizontal dropouts that allow you to move the rear wheel forward or back to provide the appropriate chain tension. If your frame has vertical dropouts, you'll have to settle for a "magic gear" combination that provides a usable chain tension and replace parts as they wear, or install a chain tensioner to control the chain. But if you do that, you may as well just buy a new derailleur and get the benefit of multiple gears.

Bill Kapaun

If a RDER seems "that" expensive, you have a very low cost bike.
WHAT RDER is on it? A Shimano ALTUS?

https://www.amazon.com/SHIMANO-RD-M3...284660529&th=1

dedhed

Do you have a bicycle co-op in your city/area?
Cheap used parts and the help to install it.

Something like this. Vulture Space

tomtomtom123

Hangers can be as low as $3. Rear derailleur can be as low as $10.