Quick release jobbies

In article <[email protected]>
Jane <[email protected]> wrote:
> If I want to upgrade to quick release hubs on my wheels do I need new
> wheels?
>
Not if you can find hollow spindles that will fit.

Jane wrote:
> If I want to upgrade to quick release hubs on my wheels do I need new
> wheels?
> thank you
> ttfn
> Jane

No. You will need a new axle and quick release skewer, but the diameter
and thread should be identical to the existing one. You will need to
transfer the cone nuts from the old axle to the new one. It will cost
about 10-15 per wheel for parts and take about 5 minutes with the
appropriate tools. To do the job yourself you would need a cone spanner
(flat metal spanner) and another spanner. Typically these will be 15mm
and 17mm respectively. A second 17mm spanner is also useful, as is a
pair of pliers. If the new axle comes with fittings, do not use these.
They may not be the right size for your hub.

These instructions presume a normal derraileur hub. It isn't necessary
to remove the freewheel (sprockets) from the rear wheel but does make
the job easier. Removing the sprockets requires a
special tool, a big spanner, and if it is a cassette hub, a chain whip.

Undo the lock nut and cone nut on one side and thread them onto the new
axle the right way round. Tighten them up against each other leaving
about 3-4 mm axle sticking out. Check the cone for pitting / damage. It
should be smooth, bright and shiny with no sign of roughness. Take the
old axle part way out, enough to allow you to pack a finger or two of
grease into the bearing. If the cone nut was damaged then you may need
to clean out and check the ball bearings [1]. Push the new axle in
behind the old one so the ball bearings don't fall out. Now you can
remove the fittings from the old axle, regrease the bearings the other
side, and fit the nuts onto the second side of the new axle.

Tighten the second cone nut up till it is just tight, ie there is no
slack in the axle. Holding it with a cone spanner (and possibly using
the second 17mm spanner to hold the other end, tighten the lock nut up
aganst the cone nut.

Put in the quick release skewer and you should be fine. It can be a bit
fiddly at first but is really quite easy.

...d

[1] If there is rust or the bearings are dry/crunchy then you really
should clean them out. Get a yoghurt pot and/or a roll of kitchen
towel. Holding the wheel horizontally, use a small crewdriver or
toothpick to drop the bearings onto the kitchen towel. Spray with WD40
or similar and polish. Replace any broken balls (your LBS can provide
replacements.)
Similarly, spray WD40 onto a piece of kitchen towel and clean out the
bearing races (the bit where the balls sit. Wipe clean then fill the
race with grease. You can then push the balls individually into the
grease and they will stay put while you get the next ones in.

I'd try the front wheel first as that is easiest. The axle length is
different to the rear wheel.

in message <[email protected]>, Jane
('[email protected]') wrote:

> If I want to upgrade to quick release hubs on my wheels do I need new
> wheels?

Almost certainly not. You need new axles, and the new axles need to be of
the same diameter and same thread as the ones you've got (but, obviously,
hollow not solid). However, in practice, at the low end of the market
these things are fairly standardised.

Go to your LBS and see if they can sell you such axles. You can strip down
the wheels yourself and rebuild them - there's nothing very hard about
this. You'll need cone spanners but these will probably cost less than the
LBS would charge to do the job.

http://www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=105

If your local bike shop won't sell you the axles, go to your local dump and
find a bike with the same number of sprockets at the back wheel as yours
which has quick releases. Take the wheels. If the wheels are good, just
use them; if not, swap the axles. The only thing to watch for in recycling
old parts is that the axles on old-style ('freewheel') 5 and 6 speed hubs
tended to bend. If the donor bike was scrapped because the axle was bent,
you don't want it!

--
[email protected] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

;; single speed mountain bikes: for people who cycle on flat mountains.

Jane wrote:
> If I want to upgrade to quick release hubs on my wheels do I need new wheels?

Why would you want to do that? I've never understood the value of QR
wheels, except for making thieves lives easier (not a priority for me),
and the prevalence of lawyer's lips makes the 'R' far from 'Q'.

sothach wrote:
> Jane wrote:
>> If I want to upgrade to quick release hubs on my wheels do I need
>> new wheels?
>
> Why would you want to do that? I've never understood the value of QR
> wheels, except for making thieves lives easier (not a priority for
> me),

Easier maintenance and no need to take a spanner on rides.

> and the prevalence of lawyer's lips makes the 'R' far from 'Q'.

File em off. QRs are still quicker even with LLs, though.

~PB