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    I think I’ve been overtightening QRs


    I was taught that it should leave a mark on your hand to tighten a QR and actually kinda hurt your palm. I’ve been doing it like this for decades.

    I’m starting to have my doubts though. First my wife pointed out to me that it is simply not possible for her to remove her wheel when I’ve tightened her QR… Secondly, I’ve noticed that with the type of QR in the picture that has the plastic cam guide, I always end up deforming that plastic. The pictured one is brand new, I just put it on and have opened and closed it a few times

    I’m kind of confused now though how tight should a QR be? You don’t want it so tight that it could be undone by someone catching a foot or some clothing on it right? Not sure where the correct middle ground is.

    by sprashoo

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    8 Comments

    1. nnnnnnnnnnm on

      You want it snug, but as tight as you’ve been doing undoubtedly is putting excess side load on the bearing. Have you roached many wheel bearings?

    2. FastSloth6 on

      Firm pressure to close, but able to be opened by most people without cussing.

      So, it’s a little less than your current torque.

    3. -ImMoral- on

      There is a simple rule of thumb I have been using, I think it is from some official guide by shimano or something, can’t remember for sure. You tighten the nut on the qr until the lever starts to tighten at 90 degrees from closed (pointing parallel to the qr) and then when you close it it should be tightened to spec.

    4. MonkEBiznack on

      At 90 degrees, it should start giving resistance, then close. I do mine like that and have no problems. It doesn’t hurt to put my QR on.

    5. CopPornWithPopCorn on

      That is called an ‘external cam’ quick release. The bigger manufacturers generally provide the superior ‘internal cam’ style quick releases. Internal cam qrs generally have all-metal construction and require less force on the lever to clamp the wheel securely.

      Older bikes with horizontal dropouts, when used with external cam qrs, often have trouble with the rear wheel slipping forward from chain tension, and the solution is to use and internal cam qr.

    6. Pattern_Is_Movement on

      If you have horizontal dropouts, you do need to make sure the rear wheel is clamped very tight. Apart from that example it doesn’t need to be crazy tight.

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