20
c. Removing a Quick Release Front Wheel
(1) Shift the rear derailleur to high gear (the smallest, outermost rear sprocket).
(2) If your bike has rim brakes, disengage the brake’s quick-release mechanism to open the
clearance between the wheel rim and the brake pads (see Section 4.C, figs. 11 through 15).
(3) Pull the derailleur body back with your right hand.
(4) Move the quick-release lever to the OPEN position (fig. 7b).
(5) Lift the front wheel off the ground a few inches and, with the derailleur still pulled back, push the
wheel forward and down until it comes out of the rear dropouts.
d. Installing a Quick Release Front Wheel
NOTE: If your bike is equipped with disk brakes, 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.
18 (1) Make sure that the rear derailleur is still in its outermost, high gear, position
(2) Pull the deraileur body back with your right hand.
(3) Move the quick-release lever to the OPEN position (see fig. 6). The lever should be on the side of
the wheel opposite the derailleur and freewheel sprockets.
(4) Put the chain on top of the smallest freewheel sprocket. Then, insert the wheel into the frame
dropouts and pull it all the way in to the dropouts.
(5) Tighten the quick-release adjusting nut until it is finger tight against the frame dropout; then swing
the lever toward the front of the bike until it is parallel to the frame’s chainstay or fork leg and is
curved toward the wheel (fig. 7a & fig. 8). To apply enough clamping force, you should have to wrap
your fingers around a frame tube for leverage, and the lever should leave a clear imprint in the palm
of your hand.
WARNING
: Securely clamping the wheel takes considerable force.
If you can fully close the quick release without wrapping your fingers around the seat stay or
chainstay for leverage, and the lever does not leave a clear imprint in the palm of your hand,
the tension is insufficient.
Open the lever; turn the tension-adjusting nut clockwise a quarter turn; then try again.
The front wheel must be secured to the bicycle frame with sufficient force so that the chain,
even under the greatest pedaling force, cannot pull it forward. If the wheel moves under
pedaling force, the tire can touch the frame, which can cause you to loose control and fall.
(6) If the lever cannot be pushed all the way to a position parallel to the chainstay or seat stay tube,
return the lever to the OPEN position. Then turn the adjusting nut counterclockwise one-quarter turn
and try tightening again.
(7) Push the rear derailleur back into position.
(8) Re-engage the brake quick-release mechanism to restore correct brake pad-to-rim clearance;
spin the wheel to make sure that it is centered in the frame and clears the brake pads; then squeeze
the brake lever and make sure that the brakes are operating correctly.
3. Removing and Installing Bolt-On Wheels
a. Removing a Bolt-On Rear Wheel
(1) If your bike has rim brakes, disengage the brake’s quick-release mechanism to open the
clearance between the tire and the brake pads (see Section 4.C, figs. 11 through 15).
(2) Using a correct size wrench, loosen the two axle nuts.
