trouble installing wheels
 

so I finally got the wheels for my new bike (njs bridgestone) but im having trouble installing the wheels. I've never had brand new hubs before, is this a common issue with them? The wheels simply wont slide into the dropouts.

some NJS bikes are built for 110 spaced hubs (instead of 120), which also have narrower (9mm instead of 10? i'm not sure) axles.

that could be your problem. search for "110 spaced" for more info. you can coldset your frame to 120 and file your axles (or your trackends, but i'd rather file a replaceable axle than risk messing up on a frame) to accept standard hubs. but you should know what you're doing.

no i have 110 spaced rear hub they just are being extremelly stiff. I guess im gonna try to file the bolt down a little

That should be the last thing you do! Ask a buddy for a second opinion before you do irreparable damage to your hub. Maybe he can see something you are missing. One slip of the file and your threads are toast.

i mean, i see that the axles have that indented space that allows them so slide on, but despite how carefully i allign the space and the track ends it wont slide on, neither the front nor back.

anyone? please? I'm dying to get this bike on the road and im running out of ideas

See a mechanic?

post a pic of both the hub and rear ends.

S/F,
CEYA!

what is hitting what? is the axle still too large for the slots in each trackend? or will the hub not fit between the two trackends?

i think in order to offer suggestions, we're going to need more information.

and while i do urge you to be cautious and get good information on what to do before filing anything, i'd disgree with the poster who fearmongeringly warned that you could irreparable damage a hub. axles are completely replacable. you're not doing anything to the bearings or hub body.

but yes, don't jump into anything.

Call me a fear monger if you will, but something tells me that if the OP is having such troubles getting a wheel into a trackend he's not going to be swapping axles on his own anytime in the near future.

Fuked axle = lot's of downtime for the OP.

8mm

ok well it seems to be that the issue is the axles are 8mm rather than the traditional 9 or 10mm because the axles are whats not going in. What are my options?

Having the axle swapped for the proper size is the proper thing to do.....

upon closer inspection of the dropouts, both front and back, they read "UFP - 8" I suppose I'll have to get the axles replaced.

ceya, do you have any 8mm axles in stock?

bump for extra help, what is the process for replacing an axle?

let me see.

S/F,
CEYA!

meh, your logic is right. it was the way it came across to me, i didn't like, but i didn't need to call you a fearmonger.

Some cone wrenches, some grease, and a sharp eye for dropped ball-bearings (assuming your fancy 110mm spaced hub is loose-ball). Nothing out of reach for even the clumsiest of home mechanics.

front hub/dropout:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y27...d/IMG_0317.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y27...d/IMG_0321.jpg

read hub/dropout:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y27...d/IMG_0318.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y27...d/IMG_0320.jpg

You could always have the rear drop outs spaced.
Kalavinka does that for fairly cheap iirc.
Of course, getting an axle may be the best for you.

where could i pick up that axle in tokyo? what stores have good spare parts like that?

why don't people use the macro button on their cameras when they take close up pics?

More gently, those close-up pics are out-of-focus b/c the auto-focus can't handle it.
There should be a macro function on your camera (it may have an icon of a little flower) that will provide crisp close-ups.

take a file to the dropouts if youre crazy

Punch

ok well tommorow im gonna file down the axle bolt, ive gotten some contrary info but Qui audet adipiscitur I suppose. If it doesnt work and I burn my axle ill just go to punch to get a new one. Id rather do that than get the dropouts filed.

trip report tommorow.

That's just a bad idea. Don't be impatient and do it right. If you go early in the morning tomorrow chances are you can be riding by the evening.

bike mechanic = someone who knows what they are doing and won't do irrepairable damage to your bike.

I'm surprised that 110mm axles are too thick for 110mm dropouts. Take it to a shop (Kalavinka?) and get them to look at it.

I also hope the axle nuts are tightened down just because, and that you're not trying to put them on like that.

So you've got a Dia Compe rear hub, right? At least, that's what it looks like to me. Can you even get 8mm axles into one of those hubs?