Have questions or want to discuss cycling? Join Now or Sign In to participate in the BikeRide community.


QR Axle adjustment, truly an art
#1
I am a newbie and I overhauled the rear QR axle this evening. (I washed the bike about 5 days ago and rode about 3 times, used orange cleaner and I guess I got some dirt inside the freehub and yesterday the tire would not free spin) I read almost everything that I could find regarding how to adjust the cones, and I still don't know if over tighten. I had no play on the axle when I was done before I placed the tire back on the bike. It was "gooey" just after I felt there was some play. I tightened and loosened the cone (only one side) for quite a while so it was just tight after no play. Spinned just fine. Did I over tighten? What if I over tighten to the point that I described here? Could there be some damage ahead?

  Reply
#2
Overhauling an axle, especially a QR axle is a trick. You want it at the point so you will have no play on the axle, but it spins freely. Basically if you were to loosen it one bit more, you'd have some play.
Couple that with how a QR axle is - it tightens down the hub when you lock it in, and you'll have to allow a bit of play on the axle when you get the cones tightened down.
If you feel it's tighter and hard to pedal than before you started, it would be very good to get the wheel back off the bike and loosen the cone a bit.

Why is it that they make adult bikes that'll generally work for 5'9" or above, yet when you pedal these same bikes they only work for someone who is 5'4" or so?
  Reply


Possibly Related Threads...
Thread
Author
Replies
Views
Last Post
 
1,484
05-14-2020, 08:14 AM
Last Post: Dany6
 
28,256
09-24-2014, 03:25 PM
Last Post: !TREK4ME!
 
8,228
09-15-2013, 03:34 PM
Last Post: Joe_W

Forum Jump:

[-]
10 Latest Posts
The great thing about trikes
Today 02:59 AM
Raleigh Sports Serial Number
Today 02:34 AM
Safest bike helmets
07-11-2025 10:13 AM
Braking: What is your GoTo braking metho...
07-11-2025 09:54 AM
Tour de FRANCE 2025
07-11-2025 08:57 AM
Tubeless vs. tubes: What are the pros an...
07-11-2025 02:23 AM
Pros & Cons of presta valve vs schrader ...
07-10-2025 11:58 AM
Full Moon Ride - Sunshine Coast
07-08-2025 10:46 PM
Continued learnings from bikepacking
07-08-2025 10:40 PM
What are the pros and cons of using a 26...
07-08-2025 10:35 PM

[-]
Join BikeRide on Strava
Feel free to join if you are on Strava: www.strava.com/clubs/bikeridecom

[-]
Top 5 Posters This Month
no avatar 1. Flowrider
23 posts
no avatar 2. GirishH
22 posts
no avatar 3. meamoantonio
18 posts
no avatar 4. enkei
15 posts
no avatar 5. Jesper
14 posts