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Problem with my rear wheel skewer

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Old 07-19-21, 02:08 PM
  #1  
robertj298 
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Problem with my rear wheel skewer

I just picked up a 1985 Univega Gran Turismo.. Had seen very little use. After
cleaning it up and putting it back togthether When I tighten the rear wheel skewer it
doesn't want to turn freely.If I loosen the skewer it tuns fine but the wheel won't stay locked in place
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Old 07-19-21, 02:23 PM
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Check wheel clearance first. With the skewer tight, verify that the wheel is centered and is not rubbing or impeded by the chainstays, brakes or whatever. If all is clear and the wheel won't turn, you have an issue with the hub, possibly even a broken axle.
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Old 07-19-21, 02:26 PM
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Moe Zhoost
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Do you mean that your skewer doesn't turn freely or that your wheel doesn't turn freely? If the first - the skewer is not supposed to turn when tightened. If the second, it may be a couple of things: 1) is the wheel centered when you tighten the skewer? If not, then it could be rubbing on a brake or stay. 2) Your bearings may be adjusted a bit too tight. The pressure of a properly tightened skewer compresses the axle a tiny bit, but this may be enough to bind the bearings a bit. If you just acquired this bike, it's probably a good idea to do some maintenance on the hubs.

Good luck and let us know how you make out.
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Old 07-19-21, 02:27 PM
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You might be better off taking it to a bike shop where they can look at it. I am basically throwing darts at a dart board here. The axle might be broken. When you hold one side of the axle and attempt to turn the other, does one side move and the other does not?
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Old 07-19-21, 02:53 PM
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Originally Posted by shelbyfv
Check wheel clearance first. With the skewer tight, verify that the wheel is centered and is not rubbing or impeded by the chainstays, brakes or whatever. If all is clear and the wheel won't turn, you have an issue with the hub, possibly even a broken axle.
The wheel is centered and not rubbing against anything. There is no play in the axle and the wheel turns freely
when the skewer is not tight.It feels as if the wheel is rubbing against something when the skewer is tight but it's not
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Old 07-19-21, 02:58 PM
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Why don't you post some photos of the bike and the rear wheel (both mounted, and off the bike).

The QR for horizontal rear dropouts MUST BE TIGHT.

I have seen battered bikes that only had a cone and no locknut. But it could also be adjusted too tight. Or as mentioned, a broken axle only being held together with the skewer.
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Old 07-20-21, 07:01 AM
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Assuming the axle is intact and you have assured the wheel isn't rubbing on anything, it's most likely the bearings are adjusted too tight. A qr skewer compresses the axle slightly when tightened and that can cause the bearings to bind. If you know how to adjust the hub clearance, loosen it slightly. If not, take it to a bike shop.
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Old 07-20-21, 07:57 AM
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Originally Posted by robertj298
The wheel is centered and not rubbing against anything. There is no play in the axle and the wheel turns freely
when the skewer is not tight.It feels as if the wheel is rubbing against something when the skewer is tight but it's not
Sounds like it's time to disassemble the hub for a look.
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Old 07-20-21, 10:22 AM
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Originally Posted by Moe Zhoost
Sounds like it's time to disassemble the hub for a look.
Yup. Pull it all apart and clean-regrease-adjust.
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Old 07-20-21, 12:16 PM
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And it's not the brake pads it's rubbing against when the skewer is tight? I've had some bikes that the rim brake assembly gets knocked out of kilter as I remove and replace the wheel. But activating the brake lever several times usually centered the pads back up.... usually.
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Old 07-21-21, 06:17 AM
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It's not the skewer. Think about it logically. The skewer and the axle do not rotate with the wheel. It also sounds like you didn't overhaul this hub. You need to remove the freewheel, overhaul the hub, remove the tire, and test in the frame. No further time consuming debunking is necessary until this is done.
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Old 07-21-21, 06:21 AM
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^ this. Remove the freewheel and then service the hub bearings.
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Old 07-21-21, 06:25 AM
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Originally Posted by SurferRosa
It's not the skewer. Think about it logically. The skewer and the axle do not rotate with the wheel. It also sounds like you didn't overhaul this hub. You need to remove the freewheel, overhaul the hub, remove the tire, and test in the frame. No further time consuming debunking is necessary until this is done.
Nope I had already serviced the hub. Turned out to be the brakes. It didn't do it all the
time so I didn't catch it at first. Works fine now
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Old 07-21-21, 07:02 AM
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Kudos for 'fessing up, we've all been there.
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