Bicycle Mechanics - How stupid am I? (Installing Skewers)

I have a SS conversion that I made out of an 197X Raleigh Grand Prix frame that was rescued from a dumpster. I put QR skewers on it at first, because that is what I had lying around. Since I often lock it up on the mean streets of Philly, I thought I would be better off with some bolt on skewers, and ordered these (http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=135&subcategory=1175&brand=&sku=8197&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=Shop%20by%20Subcat%3A%20Skewers) from Nashbar.

I put the front one on with no trouble. Then I tried the rear. I tightened it by hand as much as a could. Then, I tried to finish the job with a hex wrench. I cannot get it tight. I turn the wrench, and it turns the bolt on the opposite end along with the skewer. I tried holding the bolt, but I wasn't strong enough to prevent it from turning, even if I used a wrench.

Any ideas?

Are you sure they didn't send you a 135mm skewer instead of 130mm by mistake?


EDIT: I realize they only come 135. I think you need to chop off the excess threads at the ends if that were the case with these types of skewers.

Take the skewer off and thread it back together. Now just hold it up to the bike and see if you are running out of thread. That is what it sounds like.

Take the skewer off and thread it back together. Now just hold it up to the bike and see if you are running out of thread. That is what it sounds like.

I did this test, and I am not running out of thread. I have about 2 cm more thread than I need.

Are you sure they didn't send you a 135mm skewer instead of 130mm by mistake?

I measured it, and it is 130 mm.

I measured it, and it is 130 mm.So you chopped the ends off?....because they only come 135 for the rear according to the Nashbar description.

So you chopped the ends off?....because they only come 135 for the rear according to the Nashbar description.

Good point. Maybe I measured it wrong? I measured from the end where you put the hex wrench to the beginning of the threads. That was 130 mm. The length of the entire skewer is 170 mm. What should I be measuring?

What kind of hub are you running? Are you running a 120mm track hub or something?
When you get to the point that the nut won't tighten anymore, is there 5mm, 10mm, or more of the skewer poking through the nut?
With the skewer away from the bike, does the nut thread on all the way?

What kind of hub are you running? Are you running a 120mm track hub or something?
When you get to the point that the nut won't tighten anymore, is there 5mm, 10mm, or more of the skewer poking through the nut?
With the skewer away from the bike, does the nut thread on all the way?

I am running a (formerly) 9 speed road hub. 130 mm, I think.

When I get to the point that the nut won't tighten anymore, there is just under a millimeter of skewer poking through the nut. The nut itself is a couple mm long though.

With the skewer away from the bike, the nut threads all the way.

I did this test, and I am not running out of thread. I have about 2 cm more thread than I need.

And it will screw down on those threads OK? Hmmm

Is the axle in the drop out real close to the outer edge of the dropout? These don't come with QR springs(I don't think they would, I should say). Did you put the springs from your old QR on? They could be causing a problem. Sometimes the shape of the QR nuts can cause a problem if the axle comes very close to the outer edge of the drop out.

And it will screw down on those threads OK? Hmmm

Is the axle in the drop out real close to the outer edge of the dropout? These don't come with QR springs(I don't think they would, I should say). Did you put the springs from your old QR on? They could be causing a problem. Sometimes the shape of the QR nuts can cause a problem if the axle comes very close to the outer edge of the drop out.

The QR that I had in earlier were from some other wheels. They worked though; I've been riding this bike for months without any trouble.

The trouble started when I tried these bolt on skewers. I did not put the springs from my old QR skewers on, I used the springs that came with the skewers that I purchased.

When you say outer edge of the dropout, I'm not sure what you mean. Do you mean the rear of the drop out (ie: did I push the wheel far back into the drop outs), or do you mean something else? Sorry if it's a dumb question, but I'm not much of a mechanic.

Leave the springs off and try it. I don't know why a "bolt on" QR would even use them(bolt on defeats the whole quick release idea). I bet the spring is binding between the end of the axle and the inside of the QR nuts.

When I say outer edge of the drop out: What I am saying is put the wheel in the frame with out the QR in place. If the ends of the axle are very close to the outside of the frame(dropouts) then you might have an interference issue, especially if you use the springs. From what you have describes I am betting this is it. I have had this same problem when putting newer wheels on some older frames. The spring just took up to much room. Easier to remove it than cut the axle down.

Leave the springs off and try it. I don't know why a "bolt on" QR would even use them(bolt on defeats the whole quick release idea). I bet the spring is binding between the end of the axle and the inside of the QR nuts.

Wow, that was the problem. Thanks! I installed the skewer without the springs and it works fine. I just took the bike for a spin around the block and nothing fell off, including me! :)

I wonder why it came with springs. Are there some types of wheels where you need them?

The springs are to keep the QR open so that you can easily stick the wheel back in the frame with out the nut catching on the dropout.

The springs are to keep the QR open so that you can easily stick the wheel back in the frame with out the nut catching on the dropout.

Yeah, but I am curious why springs were included with a set of bolt-on skewers. Are there cases where you would need to use them with bolt-on skewers?

Yeah, but I am curious why springs were included with a set of bolt-on skewers. Are there cases where you would need to use them with bolt-on skewers?

Maybe they think it will help you center the skewer in the axle before installation, but more likely it's just a Chinese factory not really understanding English contract requirements.