Can I fit a Quick-Release lever to a wheel which had bolts on it before?
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Pale Rider
Legendary Member
Assuming the bike has a solid axle, fitting a lever-type quick release will be impossible because they are, in effect, skewers with a fixing on either end.
Spanner free and reasonably quick release could be achieved by a pair of wing nuts.
A bit of common sense needed, in other words you would need to satisfy yourself the wing nuts are a safe replacement for the existing nuts, and keep an eye on tightness particularly if the the bike is left anywhere it could be tampered with.
We used them all the time as kids and never lost a wheel.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Retro-bicycle-wingnuts-Gripfast-No-2/dp/B008H0P5Z0
Spanner free and reasonably quick release could be achieved by a pair of wing nuts.
A bit of common sense needed, in other words you would need to satisfy yourself the wing nuts are a safe replacement for the existing nuts, and keep an eye on tightness particularly if the the bike is left anywhere it could be tampered with.
We used them all the time as kids and never lost a wheel.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Retro-bicycle-wingnuts-Gripfast-No-2/dp/B008H0P5Z0
Mostly, yes. But i bet it's not just a case of swapping from nuts to a QR (assuming you're talking about a QR on a wheel), you'll need a new axle as well, for which you'll need a modicum of spannering to swap the old bits out. If the wheel has cartridge bearings that gets a whole lot harder, as you'll need to drift out one set of bearings to fit the new axle.
I tried to do that once, but the problem I had was the cones that came with the hollow QR axle were longer than the cones on the bolt through axle, so the new axle, once in place, had a wider OLD than the blot through. As the thread of the QR axle is a different size I couldn't use the old cones, and I couldn't find cones of the right size with the correct thread for the QR axle. I guess it is a case of suck it and see.
OP
OP
Maz
Guru
Oh man, wingnuts - what a great idea. Yes, if only left somewhere reasonably safe of course.
MossCommuter
Guru
- Location
- Salford
My axles have Allen key bolts.
I always carry Allen keys.
I always carry Allen keys.
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
15mm cone spanner. Lightweight and no messing.
Threevok
Growing old disgracefully
- Location
- South Wales
Oddly, I nearly joined your cause - thanks to the problems I have been having with the rear wheel of the single-speed
However, new chaintugs and a 10mm thru-axle seems to have sorted it
MontyVeda
a short-tempered ill-controlled small-minded troll
- Location
- Lancaster... the little city.
Blimey I'd forgotten all about them...
...once as ubiquitous as the short racing mudguard.
GuyBoden
Guru
- Location
- Warrington
Yes, but the new Axle will need to be the correct length for your drop outs.
MontyVeda
a short-tempered ill-controlled small-minded troll
- Location
- Lancaster... the little city.
[QUOTE 5335185, member: 43827"]When I was a kid I lusted after a set of those for my bike.[/QUOTE]
Yes. Now I'm thinking of a coat rack.
Yes. Now I'm thinking of a coat rack.
Black Sheep
Guru
- Location
- Rammy
I remember fitting a set of Allen bolt skewers to my mountain bike, had endless trouble with the rear twisting in the drop-outs and swapped back to a standard QR but kept the front Allen bolt to make the bike easier to lock
