Bent skewer..

Martin said:

Hello all.

I'm looking for some advice on fixing/replacing a bent skewer on my 15-speed
Falcon Explorer..

The problem started a few months back when i noticed that my rear wheel was
coming out of alignment - it looked like the derailleur side had crept
forward a bit leaving my rear tyre nearly touching the frame.
I released the quick-release mechanism and adjusted it - it looked ok so i
thought that was it - all fixed!

Within a few weeks the same problem had re-occurred and once again i
adjusted it and all was ok for a while.
But bit by bit it was slowly creeping forward on the derailleur side.
It never got so bad that my rear tyre was in contact with the frame - but
obviously something was amiss.

Anyway i then got a puncture and with the rear wheel out of the frame i
inspected the axle and skewer.
I found that the quick-release skewer had bent on the derailleur side - not
a lot but it was obviously the problem.

Strange..

Quoted message said:

So i got a replacement from the local bike shop, fixed my puncture and
replaced the skewer.
(The new skewer was not a quick-release by the way - the bike shop had no
quick-release skewers in stock).

What do you mean by this. The skewer is the bit that goes down the
centre of the axle, which is then clamed in place by tightening the
handle on the skewer (by folding it closed, not by rotating it like a
nut.)

Quoted message said:

It was again all ok for a few weeks but then i noticed that my rear wheel
was out of alignment as before.
A quick inspection showed my new skewer to now also be bent.

Skewers shouldn't bend. At all. Unless the whole axle has also bent.

Quoted message said:

Before i go and buy a replacement i was hoping for some advice on what i'm
doing wrong.

How tight should i tighten the new skewer?
(I'm a bit heavy handed with spanners etc and always give things a really
good yank to get them tight!).

Should i look for a 'super-strong' skewer to replace my bent one?

What do you mean by 'skewer' and how are you tightening it?

...d

Quoted message said:

Any constructive comments much appreciated.

Thanks.

Martin.

In message <[email hidden]>

Martin said:

Hello all.

I'm looking for some advice on fixing/replacing a bent skewer on my 15-speed
Falcon Explorer..

The problem started a few months back when i noticed that my rear wheel was
coming out of alignment - it looked like the derailleur side had crept
forward a bit leaving my rear tyre nearly touching the frame.
I released the quick-release mechanism and adjusted it - it looked ok so i
thought that was it - all fixed!

Within a few weeks the same problem had re-occurred and once again i
adjusted it and all was ok for a while.
But bit by bit it was slowly creeping forward on the derailleur side.
It never got so bad that my rear tyre was in contact with the frame - but
obviously something was amiss.

Anyway i then got a puncture and with the rear wheel out of the frame i
inspected the axle and skewer.
I found that the quick-release skewer had bent on the derailleur side - not
a lot but it was obviously the problem.
So i got a replacement from the local bike shop, fixed my puncture and
replaced the skewer.
(The new skewer was not a quick-release by the way - the bike shop had no
quick-release skewers in stock).

It was again all ok for a few weeks but then i noticed that my rear wheel
was out of alignment as before.
A quick inspection showed my new skewer to now also be bent.

Before i go and buy a replacement i was hoping for some advice on what i'm
doing wrong.

How tight should i tighten the new skewer?
(I'm a bit heavy handed with spanners etc and always give things a really
good yank to get them tight!).

Should i look for a 'super-strong' skewer to replace my bent one?

Any constructive comments much appreciated.

I had something similar on an el-cheapo bike years ago. I was a nut
style, not quick release.

Every time I did up the nuts, I slightly bent the c shaped bit the
axel fits into, and the nut tightened onto.
You need to inspect the frame where the wheel attaches to make sure it
is not being bent.

My solution was to get some very big washers between the frame and the
wheel nuts.

Martin.

--
Typed by monkey #27662472869676 on typewriter #7552416572242
When emailing me, please include the word Banana in the subject line.

in message <[email hidden]>, Martin ([email hidden]'😉

Quoted message said:

Before i go and buy a replacement i was hoping for some advice on what
i'm doing wrong.

I would check that the dropouts themselves are parallel. A bent dropout
could cause skewers to get bent. I'd also check that the axle itself is
straight. I've rarely seen a bent skewer but was dealing with one over
the weekend - it had got bent because the drive side bearing had
collapsed, and consequently the wheel needed a new hub which came a new
skewer. But I gave the owner the bike back with the old skewer in and
the new skewer loose because the old skewer matched the front one, and I
couldn't see any harm a bent skewer would do.

I may be wrong...

Quoted message said:

How tight should i tighten the new skewer?
(I'm a bit heavy handed with spanners etc and always give things a
really good yank to get them tight!).

You should be able to close and reopen a quick-release by hand with no
other tools. But it should be as tight as possible given this. A dropout
that is slipping sounds too loose, not too tight, to me.

Quoted message said:

Should i look for a 'super-strong' skewer to replace my bent one?

No. Ordinary steel skewers are strong enough, and in any case, titanium
skewers, although slightly lighter, are not I think any stronger than
steel ones.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

;; this is not a .sig

Martin said:

Hello all.

I'm looking for some advice on fixing/replacing a bent skewer on my 15-speed
Falcon Explorer..

The problem started a few months back when i noticed that my rear wheel was
coming out of alignment - it looked like the derailleur side had crept
forward a bit leaving my rear tyre nearly touching the frame.
I released the quick-release mechanism and adjusted it - it looked ok so i
thought that was it - all fixed!

Within a few weeks the same problem had re-occurred and once again i
adjusted it and all was ok for a while.
But bit by bit it was slowly creeping forward on the derailleur side.
It never got so bad that my rear tyre was in contact with the frame - but
obviously something was amiss.

Anyway i then got a puncture and with the rear wheel out of the frame i
inspected the axle and skewer.
I found that the quick-release skewer had bent on the derailleur side - not
a lot but it was obviously the problem.
So i got a replacement from the local bike shop, fixed my puncture and
replaced the skewer.
(The new skewer was not a quick-release by the way - the bike shop had no
quick-release skewers in stock).

It was again all ok for a few weeks but then i noticed that my rear wheel
was out of alignment as before.
A quick inspection showed my new skewer to now also be bent.

Before i go and buy a replacement i was hoping for some advice on what i'm
doing wrong.

How tight should i tighten the new skewer?
(I'm a bit heavy handed with spanners etc and always give things a really
good yank to get them tight!).

Should i look for a 'super-strong' skewer to replace my bent one?

Any constructive comments much appreciated.

Your skewer is bent because the axle slipped.
Check that the axle-end isn't too long on one side, there should be room
between the skewer nut and the axle for the conical spring.
Lubricate the cam mechanism, this often works wonders
Tightening: with the lever // axle. adjust the skewernut to remove all
play. Swing the skewer closed, it should make a fair impression on the
palm of your hand.
Decent skewers have a steel rod and a excentric inside the housing. (as
made by Shimano, Mavic, Campa etc.
--
---
Marten Gerritsen

INFOapestaartjeM-GINEERINGpuntNL
www.m-gineering.nl

Martin said:

(I'm a bit heavy handed with spanners etc and always give things a
really good yank to get them tight!).

Perhaps the skewer is still not tight enough or the nuts are not serrated
or serrated enough. Some skewers simply work better than others, and a
rough texture helps prevent slippage in horizontal dropouts.

Modern Shimano LX quick releases have nice long levers with an extremely
good cam action to get the wheels very tight. You should try something
this good before worrying about more obscure causes.

Alternatively, Tranz X security skewers (via eBay)* have grippy nuts and
provide more clamping force than your average quick release if you do need
it. (I can tell this from the amount of binding side-effect they have on
bearings). Don't go tooo bonkers with them though, otherwise you'll strip
the thread or something.

With cup & cone (conventional type) hubs: cones should be readjusted if
clamping tighter than usual to prevent excessive wear. Play should only
just disappear when skewer is fully closed.

* Two versions available: one takes ordinary allen key, one takes special
pentagon key. Rear works with both 130 and 135mm hubs.

Choice of skewers won't be so good if you need <=126mm.

~PB

Is it possible that the axle is broken? That would cause the repeated
bending of the skewer. Since your bike is a 15 speed I'm assuming that it's
an older bike with a threaded on freewheel instead of a cassette/freehub.
Freewheel hubs were more vulnerable to broken axles than cassette hubs.
--
mark

"Martin" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hello all.

I'm looking for some advice on fixing/replacing a bent skewer on my
15-speed Falcon Explorer..

The problem started a few months back when i noticed that my rear wheel
was coming out of alignment - it looked like the derailleur side had crept
forward a bit leaving my rear tyre nearly touching the frame.
I released the quick-release mechanism and adjusted it - it looked ok so i
thought that was it - all fixed!

Within a few weeks the same problem had re-occurred and once again i
adjusted it and all was ok for a while.
But bit by bit it was slowly creeping forward on the derailleur side.
It never got so bad that my rear tyre was in contact with the frame - but
obviously something was amiss.

Anyway i then got a puncture and with the rear wheel out of the frame i
inspected the axle and skewer.
I found that the quick-release skewer had bent on the derailleur side -
not a lot but it was obviously the problem.
So i got a replacement from the local bike shop, fixed my puncture and
replaced the skewer.
(The new skewer was not a quick-release by the way - the bike shop had no
quick-release skewers in stock).

It was again all ok for a few weeks but then i noticed that my rear wheel
was out of alignment as before.
A quick inspection showed my new skewer to now also be bent.

Before i go and buy a replacement i was hoping for some advice on what i'm
doing wrong.

How tight should i tighten the new skewer?
(I'm a bit heavy handed with spanners etc and always give things a really
good yank to get them tight!).

Should i look for a 'super-strong' skewer to replace my bent one?

Any constructive comments much appreciated.

Thanks.

Martin.

Well many thanks for all the replies.

It's been a very wet and miserable day here (in Norfolk) so i've not been
able to follow up any of the suggestions and advice.
But a superficial look at the wheel and frame seems to show that maybe the
frame where the axle/skewer attaches is no longer true.
(The bike has had no real tough usage though).

I'll await the next dry day and remove the rear wheel and examine both the
wheel assembly and surrounding area of the frame for any defects.
I'm pretty certain that the Falcon frame is covered by a lifetime guarantee
against defects - so if i find any faults i'll head for the local bike shop,
where i bought the bike from, and ask them if it's covered by Falcon's
warranty.

If not then i'll decide upon my next course of action after inspecting
everything.

Many thanks again and i'll keep this thread updated with my progress.

Martin.

:-)

"Martin" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Martin" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hello all.

I'm looking for some advice on fixing/replacing a bent skewer on my
15-speed Falcon Explorer..

The problem started a few months back when i noticed that my rear wheel
was coming out of alignment - it looked like the derailleur side had
crept forward a bit leaving my rear tyre nearly touching the frame.
I released the quick-release mechanism and adjusted it - it looked ok so
i thought that was it - all fixed!

Within a few weeks the same problem had re-occurred and once again i
adjusted it and all was ok for a while.
But bit by bit it was slowly creeping forward on the derailleur side.
It never got so bad that my rear tyre was in contact with the frame - but
obviously something was amiss.

Anyway i then got a puncture and with the rear wheel out of the frame i
inspected the axle and skewer.
I found that the quick-release skewer had bent on the derailleur side -
not a lot but it was obviously the problem.
So i got a replacement from the local bike shop, fixed my puncture and
replaced the skewer.
(The new skewer was not a quick-release by the way - the bike shop had no
quick-release skewers in stock).

It was again all ok for a few weeks but then i noticed that my rear wheel
was out of alignment as before.
A quick inspection showed my new skewer to now also be bent.

Before i go and buy a replacement i was hoping for some advice on what
i'm doing wrong.

How tight should i tighten the new skewer?
(I'm a bit heavy handed with spanners etc and always give things a really
good yank to get them tight!).

Should i look for a 'super-strong' skewer to replace my bent one?

Any constructive comments much appreciated.

Thanks.

Martin.

Well many thanks for all the replies.

It's been a very wet and miserable day here (in Norfolk) so i've not been
able to follow up any of the suggestions and advice.
But a superficial look at the wheel and frame seems to show that maybe the
frame where the axle/skewer attaches is no longer true.
(The bike has had no real tough usage though).

I'll await the next dry day and remove the rear wheel and examine both the
wheel assembly and surrounding area of the frame for any defects.
I'm pretty certain that the Falcon frame is covered by a lifetime
guarantee against defects - so if i find any faults i'll head for the
local bike shop, where i bought the bike from, and ask them if it's
covered by Falcon's warranty.

If not then i'll decide upon my next course of action after inspecting
everything.

Many thanks again and i'll keep this thread updated with my progress.

Martin.

:-)

I think "marc" is on the button here. I had a similar problem many moons ago
with my Dawes Galaxy 10 speed. As with your Falcon it had a freewheel; not a
cassette hub and I bent the axle - no idea how but once rplaced no further
problems

HTH
Julia

"JBB" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Martin" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Martin" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hello all.

I'm looking for some advice on fixing/replacing a bent skewer on my
15-speed Falcon Explorer..

The problem started a few months back when i noticed that my rear wheel
was coming out of alignment - it looked like the derailleur side had
crept forward a bit leaving my rear tyre nearly touching the frame.
I released the quick-release mechanism and adjusted it - it looked ok so
i thought that was it - all fixed!

Within a few weeks the same problem had re-occurred and once again i
adjusted it and all was ok for a while.
But bit by bit it was slowly creeping forward on the derailleur side.
It never got so bad that my rear tyre was in contact with the frame -
but obviously something was amiss.

Anyway i then got a puncture and with the rear wheel out of the frame i
inspected the axle and skewer.
I found that the quick-release skewer had bent on the derailleur side -
not a lot but it was obviously the problem.
So i got a replacement from the local bike shop, fixed my puncture and
replaced the skewer.
(The new skewer was not a quick-release by the way - the bike shop had
no quick-release skewers in stock).

It was again all ok for a few weeks but then i noticed that my rear
wheel was out of alignment as before.
A quick inspection showed my new skewer to now also be bent.

Before i go and buy a replacement i was hoping for some advice on what
i'm doing wrong.

How tight should i tighten the new skewer?
(I'm a bit heavy handed with spanners etc and always give things a
really good yank to get them tight!).

Should i look for a 'super-strong' skewer to replace my bent one?

Any constructive comments much appreciated.

Thanks.

Martin.

Well many thanks for all the replies.

It's been a very wet and miserable day here (in Norfolk) so i've not been
able to follow up any of the suggestions and advice.
But a superficial look at the wheel and frame seems to show that maybe
the frame where the axle/skewer attaches is no longer true.
(The bike has had no real tough usage though).

I'll await the next dry day and remove the rear wheel and examine both
the wheel assembly and surrounding area of the frame for any defects.
I'm pretty certain that the Falcon frame is covered by a lifetime
guarantee against defects - so if i find any faults i'll head for the
local bike shop, where i bought the bike from, and ask them if it's
covered by Falcon's warranty.

If not then i'll decide upon my next course of action after inspecting
everything.

Many thanks again and i'll keep this thread updated with my progress.

Martin.

:-)

I think "marc" is on the button here. I had a similar problem many moons
ago with my Dawes Galaxy 10 speed. As with your Falcon it had a freewheel;
not a cassette hub and I bent the axle - no idea how but once rplaced no
further problems

HTH
Julia

By the axle i take it that you mean the short(ish) hollow axle that the
skewer passes through??

(A bit of a daft question maybe!).

Martin.

Martin said:

By the axle i take it that you mean the short(ish) hollow axle that the
skewer passes through??

(A bit of a daft question maybe!).

The hub is the bit to which the spokes are attached, through which the
axle runs. The axle is either a solid threaded rod, held on with nuts
to the frame, or a hollow threaded rod which is held on by the quick
release skewer that clamps the ends into the frme.

...d

"David Martin" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Martin said:

By the axle i take it that you mean the short(ish) hollow axle that the
skewer passes through??

(A bit of a daft question maybe!).

The hub is the bit to which the spokes are attached, through which the
axle runs. The axle is either a solid threaded rod, held on with nuts
to the frame, or a hollow threaded rod which is held on by the quick
release skewer that clamps the ends into the frme.

..d

Thanks.
That's what i thought.

Just that reading through this newsgroup i've come across many (new) terms
which i don't recognise.
(That's my excuse for the daft question btw).

Martin.

Martin said:

Should i look for a 'super-strong' skewer to replace my bent one?

Having bent 3 axles in quick succession, I got a new wheel - one with a
freehub instead of a freewheel. It holds onto the axle further apart
than the freewheel did, which reduces leverage on the axle. I've had no
problems since.

--
Keith Willoughby http://flat222.org/keith/
"When you come to a fork in the road, take it."
- Yogi Berra

"Keith Willoughby" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Martin said:

Should i look for a 'super-strong' skewer to replace my bent one?

Having bent 3 axles in quick succession, I got a new wheel - one with a
freehub instead of a freewheel. It holds onto the axle further apart
than the freewheel did, which reduces leverage on the axle. I've had no
problems since.

--
Keith Willoughby http://flat222.org/keith/
"When you come to a fork in the road, take it."
- Yogi Berra

Well i've fixed my bike...

I took it along to the local bike shop that i bought it from (Nov 03) and
the chap had a look at it in his workshop.
(He also confirmed that my Falcon frame was covered by a lifetime warranty).

His verdict was that the frame wasn't bent at all and that the problem was
likely to be the bike showing signs of age.
(He'd charge me for anything more than a quick examination i guess).
When i asked for suggestions he said either:

Replace the old quick-release (hollow) axle and (bent) skewer with a
standard solid axle.

or

Get a new wheel with the better mechanisms - cartridge gears he said.

So i paid £5 for a new standard axle and fitted it this afternoon.
I've just got back from a ride down to the local river and it's like having
a new bike again!
(I forget exactly how long this bent skewer problem has been going on).

Thanks again to everyone that took the time to post some helpful comments.

Martin.