Any Insight on Putting a Rear Wheel Back On?
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Any Insight on Putting a Rear Wheel Back On?
I swapped new tires onto my bike and taking the wheels off was involved. I was okay with getting the front wheel back on but I am having trouble getting the rear wheel back on. Any recommended videos to watch or things to read? This is a 700c wheel on a cross bike.
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Shift to the smallest cog, grab the top pulley and pivot it backwards against the hanger (you should feel spring tension) until the pulley clears the cog on the rear wheel. You should then be able to seat the axle in the drop outs. Put some weight on the saddle, I usually bend over and lean my stomach against the saddle, which seats both axle ends solidly. Close the QR lever or tighten the axle nuts. If you have horizontal dropouts, you'll have to center the wheel between the chainstays manually.
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Also, if you're not running disc brakes, open the brake to allow your tire to clear. You may have a quick release at the lever or caliper, or you might have to disconnect a straddle cable at the brake.
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+1 to both posts above, but they skipped a critical step, which can make all the difference.
As noted install the rear wheel with the shifter in high or 2nd high gear. Then as you guide the axle past and above the lower chain loop, place the upper chain loop on the corresponding sprocket. Nor doing so, has the chain pushing the axle sideways, so it's hard to guide the axle faces between the dropouts. IME- this is possibly the most common reason newbies have problems installing rear wheels.
As noted install the rear wheel with the shifter in high or 2nd high gear. Then as you guide the axle past and above the lower chain loop, place the upper chain loop on the corresponding sprocket. Nor doing so, has the chain pushing the axle sideways, so it's hard to guide the axle faces between the dropouts. IME- this is possibly the most common reason newbies have problems installing rear wheels.
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FB
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An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
“Never argue with an idiot. He will only bring you down to his level and beat you with experience.”, George Carlin
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
#5
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1 more idea. Some frames are not perfect and require spreading the rear dropouts open or closed a tiny bit so the axle will fit between them. I usually hook my thumbs inside the frame to nudge them wider, while pulling the wheel in with my first fingers.
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Make sure the cone-shaped springs on the QR skewers are positioned so the cones point inward toward the center of the hub.