Help! Narrow axle aperture - no QR fits!
 

Help! Where can I source a basic 126mm skewer that is slightly thinner than usual? Maybe threaded along the entire length?

I have a set of wheels with an oddly narrow axle. The skewers will insert only as far as the threads.

They’re unused (now I know why!) and soon as new so I don’t want to replace the axle and re adjust everything.

Can anyone point me in the right direction?

any branding on the hub?

You're probably better off drilling/reaming the axle. Standard is 5mm, a 13/64 drill is 5.15-something, go from both ends and make sure you cross the middle.

Skewers are narrow enough as it is, so my advice is no matter what don't try machining one down.

Are your skewers or the axle bent?

^^^^^^ +1, check for bent axle. See what happens when you try to insert the skewer into the other end of the axle.

Can you see all the way through the axle? Can you put a small rod through it? Might it have debris inside? If the axle is bent, it is already stressed and may break. Something not right here. But may be best to replace the axle with known good axle. An all threaded skewer shaft may be a bit weaker overall.

Every thread notch is a stress-riser.

I have never seen a skewer that was threaded more than just enough for the nut - and if I had one, I'd swap it out for one that wasn't.

A broken skewer usually results in other broken things.

If they're bent, they'll likely be bent at one end - he said the skewer goes in as far as the threads. He should try putting the skewer in from the other side; if it the axle is bent, the skewer will still stop, but farther in. He should be able to eyeball the skewer for straightness.

Can you try a different skewer or roll yours on a flat surface to see if it is warped?

Assuming nothing is bent and the threaded portion of the skewer will insert, you could (in theory) file the remaining portion of the skewer to fit.

What's unused and "soon as new"?

Autocorrect obviously.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I did run it from the other side (was CERTAIN I had tried that, ha) and it worked. Looks like the issue is not a bent axle, but a burr on the inside of the non drive end of the axle. I’ll ream it out and see if that works.

cheers.


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...35b5a9e05.jpeg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...08096fa4b.jpeg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...8f977d53a.jpeg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...231b2cf3b.jpeg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1fdac8391.jpeg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0e88043b3.jpeg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0e7252c25.jpeg
these four little marks seem to be part of the problem. They caused the axle to burr in a little bit.

Can’t tell y’all how many runs down to the basement wheel
storage room for different skewers I took on Sunday morning!