When should you replace your quick-release skewers?

ju5t1n

Saw this artice earlier...

http://velonews.competitor.com/2014/04/ ... ers_324363

Anyone ever had a QR skewer fail on them?

Giraffoto

Not in 31 years, on road, off-road, up and down kerbs, over potholes etc.. No.

kajjal

My previous MTB lasted 17 years regularly going off road on various trails with no QR problems.

sloppyschleckonds

Is this a quiz?

When they look like they are going to fail?

craker

I had a nasty one this time last year when my front wheel fell off (there's a thread on here with photos). On inspection the qr skewer had rusted into the hub so while it might have felt clamped up properly, only the dropout next to the lever was clamped.

Rusty skewer? Time for replacement.

kajjal

craker wrote:

I had a nasty one this time last year when my front wheel fell off (there's a thread on here with photos). On inspection the qr skewer had rusted into the hub so while it might have felt clamped up properly, only the dropout next to the lever was clamped.

Rusty skewer? Time for replacement.

I tend to clean my QR's every couple of months and regrease them which might explain the lack of problems.

crescent

Kajjal wrote:

I tend to clean my QR's every couple of months and regrease them which might explain the lack of problems.

I find this approach works with pretty much everything on a bike - look after it, keep it in good repair and it will last a long time. These things tend not to rust overnight, early intervention and prevention is the key.

rolf_f

I dunno - next you'll all be telling me that you don't replace your bars every two years. Won't somebody think of the children?!.......

Moonbiker

Do crusty cyclists look like this?




*Dog on a string is compulsory

Garry H

Rolf F wrote:

I dunno - next you'll all be telling me that you don't replace your bars every two years. Won't somebody think of the children?!.......

I always carry spare handlebars on every ride, just in case of disaster. Can't be too careful nowadays!

Initialised

Only time I destroyed a QR was when a hub seized and the QR became the axle while the axle chewed it's way up the drop outs.

homers_double

Again, that's just poor maintenance.

Bozman

I usually replace them when I replace my chain, so probably every 1k and the carbon bars get thrown after about 10k because I can no longer trust them, I ditched my last set of Mavic SLs after 10k because I was assured that the rims will only last that long.
Safety comes first in my life.

Anonymous

I easily get 2 - 3 frames out of 1 chain.

Giraffoto

Bozman wrote:

I usually replace them when I replace my chain, so probably every 1k and the carbon bars get thrown after about 10k because I can no longer trust them, I ditched my last set of Mavic SLs after 10k because I was assured that the rims will only last that long.
Safety comes first in my life.

Just out of curiosity of course . . . when do you put your bins out?

Iamnot Wiggins

I replace QR's if they look crap. Like the ones that came with my Campag Boras. Monstrosities.

Slo Mo Jones

Kajjal wrote:

I tend to clean my QR's every couple of months and regrease them which might explain the lack of problems.

I hope this post isn't serious.

homers_double

Slo Mo Jones wrote:

Kajjal wrote:

I tend to clean my QR's every couple of months and regrease them which might explain the lack of problems.

I hope this post isn't serious.

Why not, when I do a full clean (ie taking out the wheels etc) I regrease the threads and skewer itself.

Slo Mo Jones

homers double wrote:

Slo Mo Jones wrote:

Kajjal wrote:

I tend to clean my QR's every couple of months and regrease them which might explain the lack of problems.

I hope this post isn't serious.

Why not, when I do a full clean (ie taking out the wheels etc) I regrease the threads and skewer itself.

"which might explain the lack of problems"

ergo if you didn't clean and regrease them every couple of months, it would lead to problems.

They're QR skewers ffs.

slowbike

Slo Mo Jones wrote:

homers double wrote:

Slo Mo Jones wrote:

Kajjal wrote:

I tend to clean my QR's every couple of months and regrease them which might explain the lack of problems.

I hope this post isn't serious.

Why not, when I do a full clean (ie taking out the wheels etc) I regrease the threads and skewer itself.

"which might explain the lack of problems"

ergo if you didn't clean and regrease them every couple of months, it would lead to problems.

They're QR skewers ffs.

How often do you check yours?

Over winter the rear skewer got "checked" quite frequently when changing over to the turbo ... others got checked as we packed the bikes away in the bags for our cycling holiday.
Otherwise, the skewer itself doesn't get checked other than the usual removal of wheels for some job or other when the skewers get released and turned.... never felt stiff otherwise I'd probably start to worry ...

ai_1

Bozman wrote:

I usually replace them when I replace my chain, so probably every 1k and the carbon bars get thrown after about 10k because I can no longer trust them, I ditched my last set of Mavic SLs after 10k because I was assured that the rims will only last that long.
Safety comes first in my life.

Replacement doesn't necessarily equal safety you know?

Chain replacement every 1k is ridiculous unless you're using a particularly poor wearing chain and lubricating it with tungsten carbide filings. Incidentally what's the safety issue you're addressing by replacing the chain?
If safety really came first in your life surely you'd only cycle on a turbo trainer and could dispense with all these replacements. Let's be honest - you like having shiny new stuff on your bike!

Bobbinogs

Ai_1 wrote:

Bozman wrote:

I usually replace them when I replace my chain, so probably every 1k and the carbon bars get thrown after about 10k because I can no longer trust them, I ditched my last set of Mavic SLs after 10k because I was assured that the rims will only last that long.
Safety comes first in my life.

Replacement doesn't necessarily equal safety you know?

Chain replacement every 1k is ridiculous unless you're using a particularly poor wearing chain and lubricating it with tungsten carbide filings. Incidentally what's the safety issue you're addressing by replacing the chain?
If safety really came first in your life surely you'd only cycle on a turbo trainer and could dispense with all these replacements. Let's be honest - you like having shiny new stuff on your bike!

I don't think Bozman could find the ironic font.

Bozman

Ai_1 wrote:

Bozman wrote:

I usually replace them when I replace my chain, so probably every 1k and the carbon bars get thrown after about 10k because I can no longer trust them, I ditched my last set of Mavic SLs after 10k because I was assured that the rims will only last that long.
Safety comes first in my life.

Replacement doesn't necessarily equal safety you know?

Chain replacement every 1k is ridiculous unless you're using a particularly poor wearing chain and lubricating it with tungsten carbide filings. Incidentally what's the safety issue you're addressing by replacing the chain?
If safety really came first in your life surely you'd only cycle on a turbo trainer and could dispense with all these replacements. Let's be honest - you like having shiny new stuff on your bike!

Back in the real world ......... I've yet to replace a skewer in 20 odd years but I do chop and change a lot, chains usually 3.5K, 3 chains to a cassette, my SLs had roughly 25 summer Ks on them and were still fine before I passed them on.

I purchased my first proper road bike in the early 90s(Dyna tech 725i)and I probably covered 30/35k on it, it was also lent to various friends as a commuter. In that time and being rather nieve I only replaced the tyres and bar tape but everything ran fine until one of the 105 shifters packed up nearly 18 years later.

ai_1

Apologies Bozman! (Although to be fair it's hard to pull off sufficient contrast with real silly comments around here to mske irony and sarcasm work!)
I'm relieved for your sake....

Giraffoto

Bozman wrote:

Back in the real world ......... I've yet to replace a skewer in 20 odd years but I do chop and change a lot, chains usually 3.5K, 3 chains to a cassette, my SLs had roughly 25 summer Ks on them and were still fine before I passed them on.

I purchased my first proper road bike in the early 90s(Dyna tech 725i)and I probably covered 30/35k on it, it was also lent to various friends as a commuter. In that time and being rather nieve I only replaced the tyres and bar tape but everything ran fine until one of the 105 shifters packed up nearly 18 years later.

So let's get this straight - I should be hanging around someone else's bins?

I check them from time to time - just a glance to see that they're not rusty, usually when I take a wheel off - and that's about it. A few years back now I did find one of them was holding a broken rear axle together, but they've never needed replacing. Just a clean with a rag and a new smear of grease occasionally.

pipipi

Having read this thread I think I need to replace my bins.

rolf_f

pipipi wrote:

Having read this thread I think I need to replace my bins.

If you fill your bins with too much irony they may split and then where will you be?