Need help unscrewing a Giant road bike front wheel

Sadian
Sadian Posts: 5
edited March 2015 in Workshop
So I bought this bike recently and punctured the front wheel. I assumed the inner tube tore but having never really changed an inner tube myself, I decided not to risk it. I took it to the local bike shop but the guy said he could not open the front wheel up because it needed a custom key to unscrew.

This is the front wheel, both sides:

http://i.imgur.com/MiBEMNv.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/m1U8k4L.jpg

Can I not unscrew this if I don't have the custom key?

Comments

  • ademort
    ademort Posts: 1,924
    Have to admit i,ve never seen anything like that before. Which Giant model is it.
    ademort
    Chinarello, record and Mavic Cosmic Sl
    Gazelle Vuelta , veloce
    Giant Defy 4
    Mirage Columbus SL
    Batavus Ventura
  • Sadian
    Sadian Posts: 5
    Giant Defy 3, 2013.
  • mercia_man
    mercia_man Posts: 1,431
    Looks like a Pitlock security skewer, a thiefproof replacement for QR, sold by Wiggle etc. You need a special security coded tool to open using a spanner.
  • Sadian
    Sadian Posts: 5
    Where can I get this special tool? I've contacted the previous owner about it but I haven't got a response yet.
  • mamba80
    mamba80 Posts: 5,032
    edited March 2015
    http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/pitlock.asp

    http://www.pitlock.de/en/

    Do you have the code? there are 256 different wheel locking tools.
  • Sadian
    Sadian Posts: 5
    I see. 256 different pit shapes - that will make it difficult to figure out which one I need. Oh well, thank you very much for your help!
  • trailflow
    trailflow Posts: 1,311
    If you cannot get the key. i would try carefully sawing the left nut in the middle with a hack saw.

    and buy some new skewers :)
  • homers_double
    homers_double Posts: 8,279
    And once youve done that learn how to replace a tube, it's about as difficult as breathing.
    Advocate of disc brakes.

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