How to Put the Axel Wheel to the Bike
A bicycle wheel is built around a hub containing an axle. When putting a wheel on a bicycle, the axle tips must fit firmly against the bicycle fork. The wheel will not be aligned otherwise and could lead to shifting and handling problems. The procedures for installing a front and rear wheel differ slightly. As the drive wheel, the rear wheel will need to engage the chain. As the non-drive wheel, the front wheel does not require this step.
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Instructions
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Rear Wheel
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1
Use the front gear shifter to shift to the largest rear gear ratio. This action places the rear derailleur and chain in their outermost position, away from the bike.
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2
Turn the bike over and place it on the ground so that it is balancing on the saddle and handlebars.
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3
Lift the rear bicycle wheel and turn it so that the cluster of sprockets on the side, called the cassette, is positioned on the same side of the bicycle as the chain.
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4
Lift the derailleur cage to separate the upper and lower halves of the chain. The derailleur is the mechanism at the rear of the bicycle that transfers the chain from one rear gear to another.
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5
Press the smallest sprocket on the wheel against a portion of chain directly above rear fork so that the chain passes over the top and around the back of the sprocket. The rear fork contains a pair of notches to hold the axle tips in place.
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6
Press the wheel down so that the axle tips fit firmly against the fork notches.
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7
Hold the nut on the right, drive-side of the axle while turning the quick-release arm on the opposite end of the axle clockwise. Close the quick-release arm to lock the wheel in place.
Front Wheel
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8
Lift the front of the bicycle. There's no need to turn the bicycle over when installing the front wheel.
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9
Turn the wheel so that the tire label is placed on the right, drive-side of the bicycle.
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10
Slide the wheel between the front fork. Mate the notches at the tip of the fork with the wheel's axle tips.
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Bend down and hold the right, drive-drive side axle nut in place while turning the quick-release lever at the opposite end clockwise to tighten. Close the lever to secure the wheel in place.
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References
- Photo Credit front bicycle wheel image by kryptajuliett from Fotolia.com
