canada184

Hello, I'm new in the cycling world and I need your help fixing a bike. Clearly, the person who had this before made a few mistakes during assembly, as the rear wheel won't fit in the dropouts (the wheel is hanging by the chain and brakes!). For some reason, the website won't allow me to attach pictures. Your help is more than welcome.

Best,

Canada184

DiabloScott

Do you have the photos in an IMGUR or someplace you can link to? Might have to break up the link like this:

ht tps://i.imgur.com/2Eq4VG3.jpg

Andrew R Stewart 

Why won't the axle fit into the drop outs? Are the drop out slots too narrow for the diameter of the axle? Are the dropouts too close together, as in they would have to be spread apart to be as wide apart as the axle is long? Is there some interfering item, like a der hanger not properly positioned? Since we can't see the situation... But maybe you can tell me what color the room I am in is Andy

canada184

Thanks Diablo for the suggestion : ht tps://imgur.com/a/WU6ysri

canada184

It seems to me that the previous owner disassembled it for winter and reassembled it before selling it. To answer the question, I'm not quite sure what I am looking at hahaha. It looks like the frame is too narrow to reach the axle, but I'll let you decide on that as I'm definitely a noob hahaha.

DiabloScott

Link help: https://imgur.com/a/WU6ysri Several photos there.

Pic help:





I can't be sure you don't have an incompatible wheel, but the nut in this photo goes on the other side of the dropout. Sort of like this:

andrewclaus

Yes, the spacing between the dropouts is too narrow. The left dropout may be bent, as well. Since the frame is steel, this can be repaired, but some tools and skills are needed. You may want to find a local bike shop that can do the work for you. A good home mechanic can do the work with basic tools and some ingenuity in measuring. You really want to get everything aligned and parallel.

It looks like you'll also want a new or salvaged rear quick release skewer. If there's a bike co-op near you, they'll have a bin full of those. They'll also have the tools and skills to help you fix the frame. But most co-ops are closed now, alas.

canada184

The "nut" is actually part of the wheel itself unless you're talking about what is next to the lever.

oldbobcat

Your assignment:

1. Measure the length of the hub axle between the end nuts
2. Measure the distance between the two rear dropouts
3. Report the difference to this forum.

Litespud

What does the other side look like? Is the wheel genuinely too wide for the dropouts or is it simply offset to the ND side because, for example, the chain is on a different sprocket than the one the RD was set to when the wheel was pulled? Try clicking the shifter all the way down and installing the wheel with the chain on the smallest sprocket

canada184

oldbobcat I'll get on that tomorrow! Litespud very good question, I know that the chain and the speeds were messed with (my family originally thought the chain was off). The wheel started rubbing against the frame while going uphill. I'm pretty positive that the wheel is fine because all parts are original - although something could've happened to the frame while it was in storage that messed with the dropouts...

Davet

Here are pics that canada184 sent me.

cyccommute 

Yes, the nut is part of the wheel but it is in the wrong location. In the picture below, the nut (shown by green arrow) should be inside the dropout (see yellow arrow). The dropout should ride on the stub of axle shown by the red arrow. The nut is a lock nut on for the bearings. I surprised the wheel even roll since there is no lock nut on the cone.



The wheel isn’t “fine”. It is assembled improperly and needs to be put back together correctly. This article from Park will tell you how to service the hub.

The frame may be a separate problem but fix the wheel and see if it fits in the frame first.

canada184

Hi all, here’s an update. After checking things out I’ve noticed that the derailleur and the cassette were not the original parts that came with the bike. The cassette has 7 gears while that bike is only supposed to have 6. This shortened the area on the axle that could be put into the dropout, hence why I was unable to figure out how to fix it on my own. I recently put the bike up for sale for parts, since fixing it and bringing in new parts would cost me more than the price I’ve paid for the bike! Thank you all for your help, I’m well aware that this isn’t an ordinary issue!

andrewclaus

Actually it's fairly common at the non-profit shop where I volunteer. Our mechanics are trained to spot that. I should have noticed it in your photos.