[email protected] (ant) wrote in message
news:<
[email protected]>...
>
[email protected] (Steve Shapiro) wrote in message
> >
> > Sure you can. I just did it for my wife's old Fuji.
>
> <detailed technical explanation snipped>
>
> >I had to buy a hollow axle with bearing cones, locknuts and spacers (came in a kit) plus a Quick
> >Release lever. It all came to about $30 at my LBS. You can avoid all the above work by buying a
> >new wheel. A cheapo wheel will cost around $60 at your LBS...less via mail order.
>
>
> To the OP: unless I am missing something, or you have an odd setup, you should not feel compelled
> to buy a kit, nor a new wheel. Although these options can save time, the only new piece you Really
> need is a hollow axle that matches your current hardware. I believe these run around 12 dollars or
> less. If you don't have a skewer lying around (or don't live in an area where there are hundreds
> of rusted dead wheels locked to fences where the rest of the bike has been stolen) then that would
> run you a few more.
>
> cheers
Anthony is correct, if you have the stuff use it. I would have, but I didn't, I decided to buy it,
so am able to say what it costs to buy the stuff. You can decide if it's worth it, but please don't
be put off by the term "kit." It was no more then $14.00 for the axle, cones and spacers "kit."
Plus, it was the LBS answer to my question, "What's the cheapest way to buy the necessary parts to
skewerize the wheel?" Also, putting new cones on an 18 year old wheel isn't such a bad thing. The
skewer itself was expensive at about $12.
Still, 27 or 30 dollars seems like a lot of money to spend on an old, low end aluminum wheel. My
motivation was to eliminate the 14mm box wrench from the tool kit I carry when I ride with my wife
which is often. In fact, I ended up spending more on the wheel: the old "rustless" spokes had frozen
in the nipples so, add in the cost of 36 ss spokes and nipples and you could easly accuse me of
guilding the
lilly. Along the way, I polished up all the aluminum parts so the old wheel does, truly, look and
roll like new again.
Steve