AAAAARRGGHH!! -- Rear skewer not holding rear hub in the dropouts!
#1
Raising the Abyss
Thread Starter
AAAAARRGGHH!! -- Rear skewer not holding rear hub in the dropouts!
My rear skewer is not able to keep my rear wheel in the dropouts, even during soft pedaling! I found this out the hard way, but it could have been much worse (eg, while descending @ 45mph).
The problem only occurs on my Columbus TSX frame (steel). The rear skewer holds my rear wheel in place just fine on the Temper OX Platinum frame (steel). I'm using the same wheelset and skewers for both frames. I believe the rear skewer is made of aluminum -- it's the standard skewer included in a set of 2006 Bontrager Race Lites.
Both the front and rear dropouts are chromed on the Columbus TSX frame, but not on the OX Platinum frame. So I'm wondering if the chrome is creating too "slick" of a surface area, and not allowing the skewer to "bite" into it enough to hold it in place. Yet I'm not having any issues w/ the front wheel staying in place -- maybe because there's really not much torque on the front axle/skewer?
My current solution is to use a different rear skewer (made of steel) on the Columbus TSX frame. This seems to work fine so far. I was also thinking about scuffing-up the area where the dropouts contact the skewer with some sandpaper or steel wool in order to create some more surface area for the skewer to bite into.
Has anyone else has encountered the same problem? What's the solution? I NEED TO KNOW that my rear wheel will stay in the dropouts BEFORE I do any major descending & sprinting on this bike. I can't risk messing up this bike or myself over a lousy skewer failing at high speed!!
The problem only occurs on my Columbus TSX frame (steel). The rear skewer holds my rear wheel in place just fine on the Temper OX Platinum frame (steel). I'm using the same wheelset and skewers for both frames. I believe the rear skewer is made of aluminum -- it's the standard skewer included in a set of 2006 Bontrager Race Lites.
Both the front and rear dropouts are chromed on the Columbus TSX frame, but not on the OX Platinum frame. So I'm wondering if the chrome is creating too "slick" of a surface area, and not allowing the skewer to "bite" into it enough to hold it in place. Yet I'm not having any issues w/ the front wheel staying in place -- maybe because there's really not much torque on the front axle/skewer?
My current solution is to use a different rear skewer (made of steel) on the Columbus TSX frame. This seems to work fine so far. I was also thinking about scuffing-up the area where the dropouts contact the skewer with some sandpaper or steel wool in order to create some more surface area for the skewer to bite into.
Has anyone else has encountered the same problem? What's the solution? I NEED TO KNOW that my rear wheel will stay in the dropouts BEFORE I do any major descending & sprinting on this bike. I can't risk messing up this bike or myself over a lousy skewer failing at high speed!!
__________________
"...in Las Vegas where -the electric bills are staggering -the decor hog wild -and the entertainment saccharine -what a golden age -what a time of right and reason -the consumer's king -and unhappiness is treason..."
"...in Las Vegas where -the electric bills are staggering -the decor hog wild -and the entertainment saccharine -what a golden age -what a time of right and reason -the consumer's king -and unhappiness is treason..."
#2
Low car diet
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Corvallis, OR, USA
Posts: 2,407
Bikes: 2006 Windsor Dover w/105, 2007 GT Avalanche w/XT, 1995 Trek 820 setup for touring, 201? Yeah single-speed folder, 199? Huffy tandem.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
4 Posts
My current solution is to use a different rear skewer (made of steel) on the Columbus TSX frame. This seems to work fine so far. I was also thinking about scuffing-up the area where the dropouts contact the skewer with some sandpaper or steel wool in order to create some more surface area for the skewer to bite into.
#3
Raising the Abyss
Thread Starter
The material of the quick release usually refers to the skewer itself; but it doesn't hold the axle in place, rather it holds the cam and nut in place. For your need, the skewer material is not as important as the type of cam used (enclosed=stronger vs exposed=weaker). Edit: as for material, steel surfaces on the cam and nut also help a lot. See: https://sheldonbrown.com/skewers.html
__________________
"...in Las Vegas where -the electric bills are staggering -the decor hog wild -and the entertainment saccharine -what a golden age -what a time of right and reason -the consumer's king -and unhappiness is treason..."
"...in Las Vegas where -the electric bills are staggering -the decor hog wild -and the entertainment saccharine -what a golden age -what a time of right and reason -the consumer's king -and unhappiness is treason..."
#4
Senior Member
First thing to check is that the ends of your axles are not sticking out past the outer faces of the dropouts on your Columbus frame. If they do then your skewer faces could be hitting the axles before they hit the frame and you're not getting the clamping pressure on the frame where it needs to be.
#5
Low car diet
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Corvallis, OR, USA
Posts: 2,407
Bikes: 2006 Windsor Dover w/105, 2007 GT Avalanche w/XT, 1995 Trek 820 setup for touring, 201? Yeah single-speed folder, 199? Huffy tandem.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
4 Posts
Gotcha, just re-read your original post more closely and saw that the same skewer works okay on one frame but not the other. What BCRider said is really important, but if that's not the problem, your idea of scuffing the outside of the dropouts should help.
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 33,656
Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!
Mentioned: 39 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2026 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,095 Times
in
741 Posts
I assume the skewer that doesn't work is one of the external cam "boutique" types. These work ok in vertical dropouts as the wheel can't shift but are unreliable with horizontal dropouts. A steel rod with an internal cam (Campy , Shimano or a similar type) is far more reliable fo any use. The weight penalty is minor.
#7
Raising the Abyss
Thread Starter
I'd use this skewer on BOTH bikes.
I assume the skewer that doesn't work is one of the external cam "boutique" types. These work ok in vertical dropouts as the wheel can't shift but are unreliable with horizontal dropouts. A steel rod with an internal cam (Campy , Shimano or a similar type) is far more reliable fo any use. The weight penalty is minor.
I assume the skewer that doesn't work is one of the external cam "boutique" types. These work ok in vertical dropouts as the wheel can't shift but are unreliable with horizontal dropouts. A steel rod with an internal cam (Campy , Shimano or a similar type) is far more reliable fo any use. The weight penalty is minor.
Here's my solution:
https://sheldonbrown.com/skewers.html
__________________
"...in Las Vegas where -the electric bills are staggering -the decor hog wild -and the entertainment saccharine -what a golden age -what a time of right and reason -the consumer's king -and unhappiness is treason..."
"...in Las Vegas where -the electric bills are staggering -the decor hog wild -and the entertainment saccharine -what a golden age -what a time of right and reason -the consumer's king -and unhappiness is treason..."
#8
META
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Madison, WI
Posts: 945
Bikes: Gary Fisher Aquila (retired), Specialized Allez Sport (in parts), Cannondale R500, HP Velotechnic Street Machine, Dented Blue Fixed Gear (retired), Seven Tsunami SSFG, Specialized Stumpjumper Comp Hardtail (alloy version)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
1 Post
First thing to check is that the ends of your axles are not sticking out past the outer faces of the dropouts on your Columbus frame. If they do then your skewer faces could be hitting the axles before they hit the frame and you're not getting the clamping pressure on the frame where it needs to be.
It may be that you look at the axel of the wheel when it's on the Columbus frame and it appears to have enough space in the dropouts. BUT, when you clamp down on the QR the whole assembly gets squashed enough that the skewer bottoms out on the axle BEFORE it does an effective job of clamping to the dropout.