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WTC Pack Hanger tool aligns derailleurs on the fly, new 12 speed XT M8000 chainrings

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You know the drill. You’re just riding along when an innocent crash sends your rear derailleur perilously close to you spokes. Hopefully you catch the bent hanger before you overshift into the spoke down the trail, and if you do, you have a few options. You can try to use the limit screws to temporarily limit the derailleur in its new position, you can try to bend the hanger back with your hands/tools, or you can just not shift into your easy gears and limp home.

But with the new Pack Hanger from Wolf Tooth Components, there’s another option. Thanks to the compact design of their new derailleur hanger alignment tool, you could actually bring it with you on your ride which may come in handy if you’re far from home.

 

WTC Pack Hanger tool aligns derailleurs on the fly, new 12 speed XT M8000 chainrings

How does the Pack Hanger tool differ from a standard derailleur hanger alignment tool? For starters, it’s quite a bit more compact with a cylindrical shape that would easily fit into most hydration packs or bikepacking bags.

WTC Pack Hanger tool aligns derailleurs on the fly, new 12 speed XT M8000 chainrings

The tool then comes apart into two main pieces (shown above with the optional quick release adapter). The threaded rod is inserted into the hub and frame to hold the wheel in place and act as an indicator, while the outer handle is threaded into the derailleur hanger to act as your lever to bend the hanger back into alignment.

The kits are available with 12mm thru axle adapters (142 – 197mm widths), the quick release adapter (all QR), or both.

In terms of the actual straightening process, this differs from a traditional derailleur hanger alignment tool as well. Instead of an indicator rod that you use to locate the rim in four positions, the Pack Hanger simply uses the rod sticking out of the hub as the indicator. Bend the hanger so that the handle is parallel with the indicator, and you’ve straightened you hanger. It seems that this won’t be nearly as precise as a pro derailleur hanger alignment tool, but it should be more than enough to get you home.

Don’t want to carry 300g of tool weight with you? The design makes it nice and portable to stash in your vehicle or various bags, and it can also be used at home in your shop. Made in the U.S. from 7075-T6 and 6061-T6 aluminum and 303 stainless steel, the tool starts at $59.95 for the QR kit, $99.95 for the TA kit, or $119.95 for both. The QR adapter is also available separately for $19.95.

Weight

    • Thru Axle/QR Tool – 324g
    • Thru Axle Tool –  297g
    • QR Adapter –  54g
    • QR Kit – 175g

WTC Pack Hanger tool aligns derailleurs on the fly, new 12 speed XT M8000 chainrings

Shimano 12 Speed chainrings for XT M8000 cranks

You’ve seen that Shimano just introduced the long-awaited 12 speed XT and SLX, yes? Then you’ve probably also seen that the XT group uses the same crank that was introduced as a stop-gap for XTR which employs direct mount chainrings. That’s great if you’re buying the new crank along with the group, but what if you already have an XT crank?

WTC Pack Hanger tool aligns derailleurs on the fly, new 12 speed XT M8000 chainrings

To address that very issue, Wolf Tooth Components has a new 12 speed chainring specifically designed for the Shimano XT M8000 and SLX M7000 cranksets with an asymmetric 96mm BCD. With a tooth profile developed for the new Shimano HG+ chains and drivetrains, the ring will allow you to update 11 speed XT cranksets to work with the newest groups.

Offered in 30, 32, and 34t configurations, the rings sell for $79.95 and are available now (30 & 32 only).

wolftoothcomponents.com

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18 Comments
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sbrdude1
4 years ago

Pretty cool tool. Definitely a good idea.

jasonmiles31
4 years ago

I wonder if bent skewers would screw up the alignment for the QR version? I would buy it if it were cheaper than the DAG-2.2. For a trailside fix I will just bring a spare lightweight hanger.

Dylan
Dylan
4 years ago

Or you could just carry a spare hanger, weighing a handful of grams and costing a fraction of what this tool does. That way you can fix the problem even if you completely snap the hanger (as long as you haven’t completely mangled the derailleur, chain or wheel that is).

EcoRacer
EcoRacer
4 years ago
Reply to  Dylan

Carrying a spare hanger is always a good idea. I have spare hangers for all my bikes in my backpack or saddle bags. But sometimes the dropouts aren’t welded or bonded as accuratly as they should and you need to adjust a new hanger to the frame if the angle is slightly off. So it won’t always work to just put on a new hanger. But at least it will get you home. Have had it happen on multiple bikes, even really expensive ones. Especially with 11 and 12 speed drivetrains that can be impossible to adjust unless the derailleur hanger is perfectly in line.

Lognar
Lognar
4 years ago
Reply to  EcoRacer

If you’re worried about that, align the hanger with a quality tool before putting it in your bag. Or just ride the ghost shift home.

Dolan Halbrook
Dolan Halbrook
4 years ago

12 speed chainring for 104 bcd, pretty please?

blahblah1233445
4 years ago
Reply to  Dolan Halbrook

A lot of NW chainrings accept 12s chains, except shimano ones.

Mark
Mark
4 years ago

Exactly. And then what’s the point of having your shiny new 12 speed Shimano derailleur bolted on there if you aren’t gonna have Hyperglide+ as well?

Jimmyboy
Jimmyboy
4 years ago

What…. solving a problem with a tool which is more of a hassle then using the tool that’s been around for a dogs age!
Love wolftooth but no, just no….. this is such a shite idea buy a hanger straightener tool from park tool or who ever and it WILL fit every bike… easy

Larry Miller
Larry Miller
4 years ago
Reply to  Jimmyboy

Looks like a tool designed to carry on the trail…….

Me
Me
4 years ago

I always carry my derailleur alignment tools with me. They are my manos. I even have two of them!

King County
King County
4 years ago

If that derailleur alignment tool doubled as a seatpost, (using smaller additional pieces that fit in a backpack), you would eliminate carrying one extra item. That post would have to nice for people to buy it, since a hanger tool is not seen as an everyday trail tool and you may not get many takers..

Michael H.
Michael H.
4 years ago

Hang on, who’s straightening their derailleur hanger on trail?

Rodrigo Diaz
Rodrigo Diaz
4 years ago
Reply to  Michael H.

I have, using a 5 mm long hex key. Not perfect, and worried the hanger would snap, but regained enough gears to ride gingerly to the car.

Upon attempt to fully straighten it snapped; glad I didn’t have to push the bike 15-20 km.

Brendan Moore
4 years ago

Hey Dolan,
We have 104 rings for Shimano-12 speed too=) There are lots of older solid 104 cranks around, especially the 10 speed Shimano generation! The other pull for them has been from the powermeter crowd. A number of powermeters use a 104 BCD mounting.

Here is the whole Shimano Hyperglide+ (the new 12-speed) offering:
https://www.wolftoothcomponents.com/collections/mountain/chain-compatibility_shimano-12spd-hg

Velo Kitty
Velo Kitty
4 years ago

A 12-speed chainring for a Shimano chain?
or a 12-speed chainring for a SRAM chain?

They are different. 🙁

Brendan Moore
4 years ago

Hey Velo Kitty,
We make both types. Our normal Drop-Stop work with 10, 11 and 12 speed Eagle. We have specific rings for use with the Shimano 12 speed HG+, which as you noted is a different system and is not compatible with traditional wide/narrow chainrings.

Mark
Mark
4 years ago

Hmm. Doubtful this will work. Derailleur hangers are weird. Sometimes a derailleur shifts perfectly despite the massive, quite visible bend in the hanger. Other times there’s nothing perceptible to the eye, but the shifting is hugely messed up. A quick check with a Park Tool DAG shows it’s just a few mm out of line, but it still throws the shifting off.

This product doesn’t seem to be nearly accurate enough to provide good results.

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