Hub Quick-Releases

Checking your Hub Quick-Releases What are They? Quick-releases (QR) are simple cam/lever devices that provide quick, easy-to-adjust attachments between your wheels and frame drop outs. Smaller versions are also found on some seat tubes. What do they Do? Quick-releases hold wheels securely on bicycle frames. They also let you remove and re-install your wheels quickly and easily. (NOTE: Not all bicycles use quick-releases to secure both wheels to their frame. Some use 2 bolt-on wheels, other use 1 QR and 1 bolt-on). What Needs to be Checked? Each quick-release should be checked to make sure it's tightly secured (in the closed position) and that the wheel it's holding is centered between the brake pads. How Often should I Check? Quick-releases should be checked before every ride. Check Procedure Make sure your quick-release levers are securely closed before every ride. A properly-adjusted QR mechanism begins to resist closing when it is halfway closed (at a 90 degree angle to the fork blade or chainstay). Closed quick-releases should line up adjacent to, but not overlapping, your chainstay, seatstay or fork (depending on which wheel you're working on). To make sure your QRs are gripping strongly, lift each wheel off the ground and push down firmly on each tire, checking for movement. If either wheel drops out, shifts or looks crooked in the frame, re-seat it in the frame dropouts so it's lined up correctly between the forks (or chain stays). Then adjust the quick-release for proper grip strength (as described below) and re-secure it. Common Quick-Release Problems and Solutions Poorly adjusted quick-release Quick-release mechanisms are easy to adjust. Adjustments should be made whenever a quick-release (1) does not adequately clamp down and hold the wheel in place (when in the closed position), or (2) cannot be closed. Solution - Quick release mechanisms hold wheels in place using pressure. This pressure is created by a small cam device that bites into the frame drop out when the quick-release lever is rotated into its closed position. To move the cam closer or farther away from the frame drop out (and thus increase or decrease the strength of its grip), you have to rotate the quick-release's adjusting nut -- a large, rounded thumb nut located on the opposite end of the quick-release skewer from the lever. This nut moves the cam device slightly closer or further away from the frame drop out, so that when the lever is rotated closed, the cam teeth bite into the drop out with more or less strength, depending upon the direction of the adjustment. To use the adjusting nut, first make sure that the quick-release lever is open. Make adjustments by turning the nut about a half a turn at a time (clockwise to tighten things up, counter-clockwise to loosen them). Check the grip strength of the QR mechanism after each adjustment by closing the QR lever. Properly adjusted quick-releases will be difficult but not impossible to close, and they will end up parallel to the plane of the bicycle frame. If your QR lever is extremely difficult to close, don't force it! Re-adjust instead. Remember -- over-tightening can cause QR failure.