18
19
not attempt to remove the wheel. The removal and re-installation of most hub brakes
and internal gear hubs requires special knowledge. Incorrect removal or assembly
can result in brake or gear failure, which can cause you to lose control and fall.
CAUTION: If your bike has a disc brake, exercise care in touching the rotor or caliper.
Disc rotors have sharp edges, and both rotor and caliper can get very hot during use.
a. Removing a disk brake or rim brake Front Wheel
(1) If your bike has rim brakes, disengage the brake’s quick-release mechanism to
increase the clearance between the tire and the brake pads (See Section 4.C fig. 11
through 15).
(2) If your bike has cam action front wheel retention, move the cam lever from the
locked or CLOSED position to the OPEN position (figs. 8a & b). If your bike has through
bolt or bolt-on front wheel retention, loosen the fastener(s) a few turns counter-
clockwise using an appropriate wrench, lock key or the integral lever.
(3) If your front fork has a clip-on type secondary retention device, disengage it and go
to step (4). If your front fork has an integral secondary retention device, and a traditional
cam action system (fig. 8a) loosen the tension adjusting nut enough to allow removing
the wheel from the dropouts. If your front wheel uses a cam-and-cup system, (fig. 8b)
squeeze the cup and cam lever together while removing the wheel. No rotation of any
part is necessary with the cam-and-cup system.
You may need to tap the top of the wheel with the palm of your hand to release the
wheel from the front fork.
b. Installing a disk brake or rim brake Front Wheel
CAUTION: If your bike is equipped with a front disk brake, be careful not to
damage the disk, caliper or brake pads when re-inserting the disk into the
caliper. Never activate a disk brake’s control lever unless the disk is correctly inserted
in the caliper. See also Section 4.C.
(1) If your bike has cam action front wheel retention, move the cam lever so that it
curves away from the wheel (fig. 8b). This is the OPEN position. If your bike has through
bolt or bolt-on front wheel retention, go to the next step.
(2) With the steering fork facing forward, insert the wheel between the fork blades so
that the axle seats firmly at the top of the fork dropouts. The cam lever, if there is one,
should be on rider’s left side of the bicycle (fig. 8a & b). If your bike has a clip-on type
secondary retention device, engage it.
(3) If you have a traditional cam action mechanism: holding the cam lever in the
ADJUST position with your right hand, tighten the tension adjusting nut with your left
hand until it is finger tight against the fork dropout (fig. 8a). If you have a cam-and-cup
system: the nut and cup (fig. 8b) will have snapped into the recessed area of the fork
dropouts and no adjustment should be required.
(4) While pushing the wheel firmly to the top of the slots in the fork dropouts, and at the
same time centering the wheel rim in the fork:
(a) With a cam action system, move the cam lever upwards and swing it into the
CLOSED position (fig. 8a & b). The lever should now be parallel to the fork blade and
reduce the risk of the wheel disengaging from the fork if the wheel is incorrectly secured.
Secondary retention devices are not a substitute for correctly securing your front wheel.
Secondary retention devices fall into two basic categories:
a. The clip-on type is a part which the manufacturer adds to the front wheel hub or front
fork.
b. The integral type is molded, cast or machined into the outer faces of the front fork dropouts.
Ask your dealer to explain the particular secondary retention device on your bike.
WARNING: Do not remove or disable the secondary retention device. As its name
implies, it serves as a back-up for a critical adjustment. If the wheel is not secured
correctly, the secondary retention device can reduce the risk of the wheel disengaging
from the fork. Removing or disabling the secondary retention device may also void the
warranty.
Secondary retention devices are not a substitute for correctly securing your wheel.
Failure to properly secure the wheel can cause the wheel to wobble or disengage, which
could cause you to loose control and fall, resulting in serious injury or death.
2. Wheels with cam action systems
There are currently two types of over-center cam wheel retention mechanisms: the
traditional over-center cam (fig. 8a) and the cam-and-cup system (fig. 8b). Both use an
over-center cam action to clamp the bike’s wheel in place. Your bicycle may have a cam-
and-cup front wheel retention system and a traditional rear wheel cam action system.
a. Adjusting the traditional cam action mechanism (fig. 8a)
The wheel hub is clamped in place by the force of the over-center cam pushing against
one dropout and pulling the tension adjusting nut, by way of the skewer, against the other
dropout. The amount of clamping force is controlled by the tension adjusting nut. Turning
the tension adjusting nut clockwise while keeping the cam lever from rotating increases
clamping force; turning it counterclockwise while keeping the cam lever from rotating
reduces clamping force. Less than half a turn of the tension adjusting nut can make the
difference between safe clamping force and unsafe clamping force.
WARNING: The full force of the cam action is needed to clamp the wheel securely.
Holding the nut with one hand and turning the lever like a wing nut with the other
hand until everything is as tight as you can get it will not clamp a cam action wheel safely
in the dropouts. See also the first WARNING in this Section, p. 18.
b. Adjusting the cam-and-cup mechanism (fig. 8b)
The cam-and-cup system on your front wheel will have been correctly adjusted for your
bicycle by your dealer. Ask your dealer to check the adjustment every six months. Do not
use a cam-and-cup front wheel on any bicycle other than the one for which your dealer
adjusted it.
3. Removing and Installing wheels
WARNING: If your bike is equipped with a hub brake such as a rear coaster brake,
front or rear drum, band or roller brake; or if it has an internal gear rear hub, do
