I’ve just bought a lovely old Dawes gents tourer. It’s needs some TLC, most of which I’m fine with, but I’m a little stuck with the rear wheel quick release. It’s almost horizontal and forward facing dropout. No matter how hard I close the QR the back wheels slips under heavy load - Any suggestions? I’d happily swap for a bolt through non-QR axel but can’t see how to swap that given how thin the QR axel is?
Any ideas welcome. Thanks!
Are the cup and cones done up properly as this can cause slip otherwise try a shimano qr skewer as they are regarded as the best.
What sort of QR is it? If it's one with forward facing dropout you need a QR with external cam; the modern style often don't and can slip under load. A friend had exactly this issue with an old Italian road frame; solved with a new skewer.
Some of the issues associated with q/r axles is through over tightening.
Possibly replace and don’t try and tighten do that you break your hand.
You may find that you can get more oomph with one of those 5mm Allen key security skewers.
APF
If you want to change to a bolted axle, (like old fashioned bolted not bolt through) you change the whole axle to a longer threaded one it's easy on a hub of that vintage.
Make sure the hollow axle is centred, if it sticks out too far one way the skewer will close on that and not the drop out. Common when people take a 130 axled hub and respace to 126.
Make sure you have knurled lock nuts on the axle (and knurled faces on the skewer).
Get a shimano or campag skewer (internal cam), even something like Claris will be better than most shiny anodised aftermarket ones.
Make sure the sides of the slots in the drop out are parallel, and the faces of the drop out aren't damaged.
Allen key security skewers don't actually give any more end load/grip on the drop outs, and in many cases give less (as they wind up when you tighten them). A better skewer with a good solid cam action will give you more.