Newbie tries to change rear wheel, now chain rubs
 

In an effort to learn, I tried removing and reinstalling my rear wheel (had never tried it since I got my bike a week or so ago). I shifted on to the smallest cog in back and the smallest ring in front (for slack, according to the site I visited), and removed the wheel. No problem.

So, I reinstall it, but this time the quick-release seems a bit tighter than it was before (tougher to close), but I think nothing of it. The wheel rotates without rubbing the brakes, so I'm feeling fine.

Then I try shifting through the gears, and on the large ring my front derailleur rubs the outside of the chain in several gears.

Before I tried this, there was NO chain rub.

What the hell have I done, and how do I fix it?

That's called cross chaining and chain rub is common when cross chaining.

Should have clarified, sorry.

It now rubs even on the LARGER ring in front and the smaller cog in back.

The key here is that you are assuming the rear wheel removal and the rubbing are connected - not necessarily. It could very well be that your front cable has stretched as the bike is so new. I know of no explanation for the rubbing you describe being caused by any rear wheel issues. (Mechanic/svc manager with 20+ years experience).

True CNY. I did take the bike for it's longest ride today, so there may have been some stretching. I adjusted the front derailleur cable with the adjustment barrel and that seemed to remedy the problem.

With the wheels on the ground, loosen the QR and pull the wheel back into the dropouts. Make sure tire is centered inside the stays tighten the QR and try riding again. Report back with results.

Scrub - It appeared that the wheel was a little off-center so I gave it a tweaking as per your suggestion. I also noticed that my front derailleur cage was slightly turned inward, causing it to rub the chain, so I adjusted it to make it parallel with the chain. Now it seems to go smoothly.

I'm going to take it out in the morning to give it a test run. If things aren't working properly, I'll just take it to the LBS Monday.

Cool, hope it works:thumb:

+1
Always have the wheels on the ground and the axles fully seated when closing the skewer for the final time before riding.

Al

Doesn't matter if the OP has horizontal dropouts.

probably not according to his sig...

Oh good... I have forum sigs turned off by default.

Hey good job! Be sure to adjust the FD outer-cage parallel to the chain when you're in the tallest gear, big-chainring/smallest-cog. If you have a newer FD with a wedged-shaped cage (narrow in front, wider in rear), this allows the chain to sweep a wedge-shaped path (looking down from top) as you go through the cogs in back. The FD cage will sit outside of this space and not rub throughout the entire sweep-range.

On older FD with parallel cages, I insert a longer bolt with a 1/8" spacer at the rear where the two cage-halves bolt together. This gives it the wedge-shape to prevent rubbing across the entire range.