Cycling UK Forum

.

LollyKat wrote:

661-Pete wrote:

TonyR wrote:Take the skewer out and pop the wheel in the dropouts. The ends of the axle should be flush or very slightly recessed with the outer surface of the dropout. If its protruding there is a chance the QR will clamp down on the end of the axle not the dropout.

Not strictly accurate: be careful here! If the spacing between the dropouts is significantly more than the distance between the outer surfaces of the bearings on the axle, then as you tighten the skewer the dropouts will be compressed together until they press against the bearings. So the ends of the axle could still protrude once the skewer is tight, even though this is not apparent when the skewer is loose.

Best test I think is to half tighten the skewer and check that the wheel has no play, however slight, in the dropouts. Then fully tighten the skewer.

Many thanks, both of you.

-sorry I didn't get back to you before. Another way of judging if you are close to having a problem is this: First, close the QR lever when the wheel is out of the frame. Now slide the QR through the axle, fully to one side, and check the gap between the QR and the locknut that the dropout must fit in. It should be 1mm or more narrower than the dropout. Slide the QR the other way and check the other side.

When snugging the wheel in the frame, do as suggested above. Be mindful that the springs can get scrunged up and this might cause exactly the problem you are hoping to avoid. Springs can get scrunged when you adjust the QR, which of course you need to do plenty of, every time you use a bike with Lawyer's lips.... If the springs look even slightly iffy, its best to leave them both out; they are for racing, and I'm not racing, and nor are many other people, truth be told.

cheers

Many thanks, Brucey.

it completely defeated the pupose of the Quick Release in the process.

The alternative is a nut that you have to dig around in your saddle bag to find a spanner for - plus you have to carry the spanner.

Really struggling to understand how releasing the QR, then turning the nut on the other side 6 or so times can take more than about 5 seconds.

aprildavy wrote:

it completely defeated the pupose of the Quick Release in the process.

The alternative is a nut that you have to dig around in your saddle bag to find a spanner for - plus you have to carry the spanner.

Really struggling to understand how releasing the QR, then turning the nut on the other side 6 or so times can take more than about 5 seconds.

you need two hands, not one, to remove and replace the skewer. Getting the wheel out is fast enough, but the QR is -obviously, even if you count turns etc.- never adjusted perfectly when you come to put the wheel back in again.

Which is a pain.

Not so much of a pain as having the wheel come out of its own accord, mind.

Sometimes I wonder, what are the springs for? Are they just to help to centre the skewer on the axle and make it easier to put the wheel on one-handed? Would it be a problem if I left out the springs? (if you take the skewer right out, it's easy to lose them!)

[edit] hadn't read the whole of Brucey's post above before posting this. That may be the answer I was looking for [/edit]