Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Bicycle Mechanics
Reload this Page >

Stupid Question: Removing a front wheel attached with Allen bolts

Search
Notices
Bicycle Mechanics Broken bottom bracket? Tacoed wheel? If you're having problems with your bicycle, or just need help fixing a flat, drop in here for the latest on bicycle mechanics & bicycle maintenance.

Stupid Question: Removing a front wheel attached with Allen bolts

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 02-10-07, 08:36 AM
  #1  
Olé Olé Olé Olé T-C...N-J
Thread Starter
 
TCNJCyclist's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: The Dark Forest of Ewing (New Jersey)
Posts: 464

Bikes: 1985 Trek 620, 2005 Cannondale R700

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Stupid Question: Removing a front wheel attached with Allen bolts

I'm trying to get the front wheel off of my bike, but I can't get both allen bolts loose enough to remove the wheel. When I start to loosen both, one bolt seems to get looser than the other and then only that bolt continues to loosen. The other stays in place and prevents me from removing the wheel.

Any ideas on how to get both bolts loose at the same time?
__________________
1985 Trek 620 (picture pending)
2005 Cannondale R700 (picture pending)

Bike & Build
NJ Bike Map
TCNJCyclist is offline  
Old 02-10-07, 08:37 AM
  #2  
Banned.
 
Nessism's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Torrance, CA
Posts: 3,061

Bikes: Homebuilt steel

Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2193 Post(s)
Liked 425 Times in 337 Posts
Originally Posted by TCNJCyclist
I'm trying to get the front wheel off of my bike, but I can't get both allen bolts loose enough to remove the wheel. When I start to loosen both, one bolt seems to get looser than the other and then only that bolt continues to loosen. The other stays in place and prevents me from removing the wheel.

Any ideas on how to get both bolts loose at the same time?

Two wrenches at same time?
Nessism is offline  
Old 02-10-07, 08:40 AM
  #3  
Olé Olé Olé Olé T-C...N-J
Thread Starter
 
TCNJCyclist's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: The Dark Forest of Ewing (New Jersey)
Posts: 464

Bikes: 1985 Trek 620, 2005 Cannondale R700

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Nessism
Two wrenches at same time?
I do that, but at a certain point, (assuming the left bolt is the very loose bolt) loosening the right bolt and holding the left one still will keep loosening the left bolt.
__________________
1985 Trek 620 (picture pending)
2005 Cannondale R700 (picture pending)

Bike & Build
NJ Bike Map
TCNJCyclist is offline  
Old 02-10-07, 09:13 AM
  #4  
Banned.
 
Nessism's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Torrance, CA
Posts: 3,061

Bikes: Homebuilt steel

Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2193 Post(s)
Liked 425 Times in 337 Posts
I'm confused by the fact that your wheel is held on with allen bolts. Do the bolts thread into the hub axle? If so, you are going to have to try to hold the axle and keep it from turning when you loosen up the bolts. Needle nose plyers may help.
Nessism is offline  
Old 02-10-07, 10:06 AM
  #5  
Olé Olé Olé Olé T-C...N-J
Thread Starter
 
TCNJCyclist's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: The Dark Forest of Ewing (New Jersey)
Posts: 464

Bikes: 1985 Trek 620, 2005 Cannondale R700

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Yes, instead of a quick-release or track nuts, I have allen bolts. I'll try the pliers, it sounds like it should work. I just changed the rear wheel without any problems, so it must just be the front that's the problem.
__________________
1985 Trek 620 (picture pending)
2005 Cannondale R700 (picture pending)

Bike & Build
NJ Bike Map
TCNJCyclist is offline  
Old 02-10-07, 10:27 AM
  #6  
Elitist Troglodyte
 
DMF's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Dallas
Posts: 6,925

Bikes: 03 Raleigh Professional (steel)

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
__________________
Stupidity got us into this mess - why can't it get us out?

- Will Rogers
DMF is offline  
Old 02-11-07, 10:27 AM
  #7  
Olé Olé Olé Olé T-C...N-J
Thread Starter
 
TCNJCyclist's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: The Dark Forest of Ewing (New Jersey)
Posts: 464

Bikes: 1985 Trek 620, 2005 Cannondale R700

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Got it! The axle wouldn't stay still. I had to loosen one side (no problem), then hold the axle on the same side that I was loosening the second bolt on (not a big deal).

Thanks for the help.
__________________
1985 Trek 620 (picture pending)
2005 Cannondale R700 (picture pending)

Bike & Build
NJ Bike Map
TCNJCyclist is offline  
Old 02-11-07, 11:41 AM
  #8  
SwampFox
 
Little Leo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Green Bay WI
Posts: 762

Bikes: Diamonback Sorrento, Gary Fisher Cobia

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
there is a little washer like nut on the inside if both sides of your fork. they prevent the axle nut from backing out. hold the inside nut still while you back the outside nut out next time.
thats what is on my junk bike and it is a pain.
Little Leo is offline  
Old 02-11-07, 11:46 AM
  #9  
hello
 
roadfix's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 18,692
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 193 Post(s)
Liked 115 Times in 51 Posts
Just curious, is this a junk hub or a high end hub like Phil's, for instance?
roadfix is offline  
Old 02-11-07, 11:57 AM
  #10  
Gone, but not forgotten
 
Sheldon Brown's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Newtonville, Massachusetts
Posts: 2,301

Bikes: See: https://sheldonbrown.org/bicycles

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 24 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times in 5 Posts
Originally Posted by TCNJCyclist
I'm trying to get the front wheel off of my bike, but I can't get both allen bolts loose enough to remove the wheel. When I start to loosen both, one bolt seems to get looser than the other and then only that bolt continues to loosen. The other stays in place and prevents me from removing the wheel.

Any ideas on how to get both bolts loose at the same time?
Remove one of the bolts.

Lubricate its threads with grease or oil.

Tighten the lubricated bolt back in.

Remove the other bolt.

Loosen the bolt with lubricated threads.

Lubricate the threads of the other bolt before re-installing it.

Sheldon "No Dry Threads" Brown
Sheldon Brown is offline  
Old 02-11-07, 12:21 PM
  #11  
Olé Olé Olé Olé T-C...N-J
Thread Starter
 
TCNJCyclist's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: The Dark Forest of Ewing (New Jersey)
Posts: 464

Bikes: 1985 Trek 620, 2005 Cannondale R700

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by The Fixer
Just curious, is this a junk hub or a high end hub like Phil's, for instance?
It's a Van Dessel hub.
__________________
1985 Trek 620 (picture pending)
2005 Cannondale R700 (picture pending)

Bike & Build
NJ Bike Map
TCNJCyclist is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.