ask Dr. LJ - bicycle repairs

[dchenes]

I bought an indoor training stand for my bicycle. To put the bicycle in it, I have to replace the skewer in the rear wheel. This scares me, because I'm afraid I'm going to end up with the chain coming off and I haven't a clue how to fix that. So, three questions:

1. What sort of tool should I use to loosen up the plastic end of the original skewer without destroying it? (It's REALLY tight.)
2. Is it possible for the chain to fall off if the bike tips while I'm messing around with the skewer?
3. If the chain does fall off, can I fix it myself?

Help!

Comments

[dchenes.livejournal.com]

That's all right, so am I. Lacking significant other or children, I have a cat. :)

[fontosaurus.livejournal.com]

2012 Games. I was unable to post a qualifying time by the end of December -- due to financial and time constraints. :-P

And "crazy cat lady" is defined as a 3.5-to-1 ratio. I am below the ratio, thank you.

[fontosaurus.livejournal.com]

Criminal Mass? Eh. Done one here and one in Philly, and think it's kinda lame. :-)

Naw. We've got a velodrome here in the TC (you should go do some photography sometime), and I'll have plenty of opportunities to race here until the trials for '12.

[fontosaurus.livejournal.com]

Hokay. Here's the way to go about this. For starters, you don't unscrew the plastic bit first, and you won't need to take the wheel out of the frame.

1. Leave the bike sitting on both its wheels. Reach down, grab the lever on the far side of the quick release, and pull it away from the bike into the "open" position.

2. Now unscrew the plastic cap at the far side. Make sure you don't lose the little spring underneath it.

3. Gently pull on the lever end, and the skewer will slide out of the axle. Everything should stay together, as you have the bike sitting on its wheels.

4. Thread the new skewer through the back wheel in place of the old one. The little lever should be on the non-drivetrain side of the bike, away from the chain, and there should be a little cone-shaped spring on either end of it, with the narrow end pointing in toward the bike's frame.

5. Now thread on the cap of the second skewer. Make sure that the lever on the far side is still in the open position, and folded away from the frame. Thread the cap down until it touches the frame.

6. Making sure that the wheel is in the frame straight (pull up on it), flip the lever to the closed position. If it was hellaciously easy, flip it back open, and turn the cap some more. If it's a huge effort, flip it back open and loosen the cap a bit. "Tight enough" in this case is defined as the lever leaving a little white mark in your palm as you close it.

Make sense?

And yes, if the chain falls off, you can fix it yourself. Just grab the top of the chain and lift it back onto the front gear and then pedal the bike forward.

[dchenes.livejournal.com]

That does make sense, thank you!

Nice, clear directions.

[cuilean.livejournal.com]

::Nods:: He gets the 10 on clarity without pictures. Remembering to remind you about that little spring is the win, as I've shot that little dangummit across the room once or twice myself.