// MANUAL
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 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 g. 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 (gs. 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. If your
front fork has an integral secondary retention device, and a traditional cam action system
(g. 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, (g. 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 (g. 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 rmly at the top of the fork dropouts. The cam lever, if there is one, should
be on rider’s left side of the bicycle (g. 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 nger tight against the fork dropout (g. 8a). If you have a cam-and-cup system: the
nut and cup (g. 8b) will have snapped into the recessed area of the fork dropouts and no
adjustment should be required.
To Next Page
