Bicycle Mechanics - Odd Rear Wheel Problem

I've got a odd wheel problem that I can't diagnose. The bike is a '06 Fisher Hybrid, running on weinmann wheels (I forget what the hubs are). The problem is that when peddling I noticed that the rear wheel is pulling to the left. On hills I'll actually pull the rear tire into the frame.

I've checked the following:

* No broken spokes (had one a few months ago, but I've since replaced it)
* Hub is not loose
* Reset wheel to make sure it was seated correctly.


Any ideas what could cause this? I've searched the forums and found cases where people had this as a result of improper seating of the wheel, or loose hubs, but both of those appear fine in this case.

Chain tension, especially the high tension when climbing pulls the right side of the wheel forward causing the rim to rub the left chainstay.

There are three possibilities, either

1-the axle is moving forward in the right dropout,
2-the bearings are loose enough for the hub to shift on the axle,
3-the axle is broken and the QR skewer the only thing holding it together,

From your description which seems to eliminate the first two the third is the most likely.

The first diagnostic step is to have someone stand on one pedal with the brakes on to tension the chain while you observe whether the hub alone is flexing or if the axle is moving in the dropout. A moving axle is easy to fix, tighten the QR or if that doesn't help add a serrated washer under it.

If the axle isn't moving, check for loose bearings by wiggling the rim, then remove the wheel, pull out the skewer and check that both ends of the axle are still attached to each other without the skewer to support them.

+1 , I agree with FBinNY .

+1 , I agree with FBinNY .

+2. Me, too!

4. You're just not tightening the wheel enough. Probably 1,2,3 though.

If you have an '06 hybrid, I'd almost expect vertical dropouts. If so, then it's unlikely you have a loose axle nut. Since even if not all the way tight, the axle will strike the vertical dropout and stop moving forward. The broken axle is probably the highest probability unless your rear wheel is so loosely attached, it's ready to fall off.

I did some more looking based upon the feedback of the forum and, indeed it's a broken axle. Looks like I'll be saving pennies for a new set of wheels :(.

I did some more looking based upon the feedback of the forum and, indeed it's a broken axle. Looks like I'll be saving pennies for a new set of wheels :(.

No need to be so glum.

Axles break, and are easily replaced. If the wheel is in otherwise decent shape, a few dollars for a new axle will have you up and running. Note when shopping axles. Most sellers sell QR axles by overall length, which is 10-11mm more than the OLD. So if you have 130mm dropout width you need a 140 or 141mm axle.

If you have loose balls in the hubs, buy a new set at the same time in case you dropped one, and check your cones and cups for gouging before spending any money.

I did some more looking based upon the feedback of the forum and, indeed it's a broken axle. Looks like I'll be saving pennies for a new set of wheels :(.

These guys are good, aren't they? :thumb:

Before you go popping in a new axleset...have the dropout alignments checked to make certain they are parallel to each other....

=8-)

These guys are good, aren't they? :thumb:

Throw enough compost against a target, and some of it has to land in the bulls eye.