Sturmy

Hello

I am just learning how to work on bikes and honestly I do not know much, so I apologize if this is a dumb question.

I am trying to put together an old RAND ten speed with parts that I have found in my uncles garage. The front wheel is too wide to fit into the front fork.

Is there any way to adjust the bolts on the hub so that the fork will fit? Or do I just have to find another fork or wheel?

Thank you for your help!

HillRider

I assume the front wheel you are trying to use did not come with the bike. Current front hubs are almost universally 100 mm "OLD" (over locknut dimension), i.e. the distance between the outer faces of the locknuts and forks have the same 100 mm spacing between the inner faces of the dropouts. However, some older and many cheap old bikes had 91 mm or 965 mm hubs and forks and a 100 mm wheel won't fit without a fight.

jtarver

If you're able to post pics, so we can see if there's any way to respace it. There might be some thick washers/spacers you can replace with thinner ones to get it in there.

jtarver

Oh yeah, the width of your fork would help also. Just measure in mm from inside to inside.

PlatyPius

Grab fork legs.

Pull apart.

Insert wheel.

Much cheaper than buying a new fork or a new (old) wheel.

jtarver

Yeah, that works, though one leg usually bends a bit more/less than the other, shouldn't be enough to make a difference, go a bit at a time so you don't end up too wide.

Sturmy

So, I did this and now the wheel fits. It was about 3/16 of an inch.

Should I now be concerned with safety while riding?

jtarver

You should always be concerned, but more with the car driving crowd. I think your bike will be fine...

PlatyPius

Nope. You'll be fine.

I "stretched" the rear end of one of my bikes from a 126mm to a 130mm. It's fine and is done frequently.

Bill Kapaun

I just had a similar problem and found a pair of thinner lock nuts. It didn't "solve" the problem, but it "eased" it. At least I don't risk "rupturing" myself to get that last MM of spread

You might ask you LBS to see if they have some thinner ones in their junk drawer. Have a sample with you. You probably need to regrease the bearings anyway, so you'll have one off.

PlatyPius

Aye, we've done that before too.

Sturmy

Thank you everyone for the help and advice! I am now very close to having a complete bike.

Panthers007

Just watch out with aluminum forks and rear dropouts. Aluminum won't put up with being bent like steel will. Carbon is right out.