I currently have a quick release front axle and want to make it a solid axle with nuts, is this possible and has anyone done this?

Yes, it's possible. You'll need a solid axle and the nuts to go with. This is a good time to learn how to clean and re-pack your bearings. Alternatively, you could get a skewer that bolts so you wouldn't have to swap axles.

Why do you want a nutted axle anyway?

Also, it's "axle."

Why do you want to switch?

Unless it is a cartridge hub, then steps are slightly more complicated.

Actually I wanted to convert my flip flop hub to a quick release version, but its a cartridge type hub. Is it still possible?

yes, it is.

Well I asked my local (only) bike shop that deals with flip flop hubs etc., and he told me removing the solid axle would mean breaking the cartridge bearings. He said this without taking a look at my particular hub, so I guess this means just about any cartridge bearing hub. So, now is that true, or is he just trying to avoid low paying hard work?

Pulling the axle will not breaki the bearings if they are fixed race / sealed bearings. Those kinds of bearings are designed to spin much faster than ever a bike would hope to reach like 20,000 rpm.

The hardest part is determining what donor axle you need to get. If the bike mechanic is breaking bearings taking them out, they must be crap bearings or he is putting way to much hurt on them.


Tom

If you're still interested in swapping axles, here's an article that will show you how.

Although it's a tutorial for replacing cartridge bearings but the principles are the same.

Thanks Tom. But I have a further query. Unlike cone nuts, these bearings seem to be sitting flush on the axle. I could not, from careful inspection, directly understand any straightforward way of removing the axle. So, do you suggest I just yank and that is it??

Thanks Squirelli. That article seems to answer all my questions. Very useful.

As Tom have mentioned, finding a matching axle is the problem now.

Not sure if this will help but BikeIsland have a bunch of axles that are for quick release.

You are right. That is going to be a problem. And with shipping to India being another issue, let me see if it makes more sense to find a free ball bearing type flip flop hub and then convert it to quick release.

By the way, thanks for the axles link.