QR Lever - left or ...
 

[Closed] QR Lever - left or right side of wheel...?

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My front wheel has a QLOC quick release axle and I was wondering if it makes any difference which side it is inserted from. I have disc brakes and the lever doesn't go anywhere near the rotor if I insert it from that side so other than that I can't think of any reason why it cannot be inserted from either side.

Any "rules" on this I should know about?

 
Posted : 30/08/2021 3:34 pm
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IMO its best not to have it on the disc side because the disc can be very hot and burn your hand when you flip the lever. But its a minor point.

 
Posted : 30/08/2021 3:39 pm
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Left as back is left for ease of access, if both left then easy to visually and physically check they're tight

 
Posted : 30/08/2021 4:19 pm
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Left, always.

 
Posted : 30/08/2021 4:28 pm
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👇

Left, always.

 
Posted : 30/08/2021 4:46 pm
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So the rear wheel has an annoying hex bolt axle which inserts left to right NDS to DS.  My plan was to swap the hex for a QR at the rear and also to satisfy my OCD I was wanting to have them both going through the same way, which is inserted from the left side (meaning lever is on the left when the bike is viewed from the rear). I should add that when I got the bike from new the front lever was on the right- hence my question..

 
Posted : 30/08/2021 4:57 pm
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If it's QLOC it's not a QR lever. The Suntour page shows the QLOC lever being on the right.

What fitting is the rear axle. likely that that will have the release on the NDS and thread DS on the frame?

 
Posted : 30/08/2021 5:20 pm
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@susepic - re Suntour website - You are correct, so it does, in every pic, so maybe that's the way it's supposed to be.

The rear axle has a thread on the DS and it is tightened/released from the NDS. Its a 12x148 axle. FOCUS Jarifa. And actually I don't think I will be able to convert it to a QR either.

 
Posted : 30/08/2021 7:02 pm
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@Oceanskipper - Yep, those pics are pretty consistent.
I was looking for a replacement front maxle recently and i could get a plain hex axle or one with a flip out lever. Interestingly that is threaded on the LHS so unscrew from the RHS.

If the rear axle is threaded DS - your axle will be NDS hex screw. Something similar to a maxle, and i guess you might be able to get different axles some of which might have a lever so you don't need a hex key to release. Need to work out what the axle is and then see what equivalents you can get.

 
Posted : 30/08/2021 7:46 pm
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I bought a Shimano AX56-B (which is the correct one for my XT hub) thinking I could just use that but the thread is too big on the AX56 and it won't screw in. AX56 has "M12 x P1.5 length 177" stamped on it so perhaps I need to look for an M11 - seems a bit of an odd size though. Maybe the pitch is what is wrong, but trying to get that sort of info out of FOCUS is nigh on impossible. Their stock answer is "We only recommend what is fitted and here is the part code for it". 🙄

 
Posted : 30/08/2021 7:56 pm
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Ah - the Robert Axle Project suggests that the pitch might be 1.75 so that's a step in the right direction.... 🙂

 
Posted : 30/08/2021 8:16 pm
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What markings are there on the original Rear axle. On a maxle all the relevant detail is lazer etched so you can work out pitch, Mxx and Length for a replacement

 
Posted : 30/08/2021 9:21 pm
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👇

Left, always.

I always suspected this place was full of lefties 😕

 
Posted : 30/08/2021 9:26 pm
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Why does it matter for an old school QR system?

 
Posted : 30/08/2021 10:17 pm
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Why does it matter for an old school QR system?

My understanding is that it was convention. Originally the QR was on the non-drive side, presumably so that it was away from the derailleur. Having the front and back on the same side was less confusing. When disk brakes came out, some people switched them round to put them opposite the rotor. Depending on the design of the QR and dropouts, some work better on one side or the other. I still run mine on the non-drive side, don't think it makes any functional difference.

 
Posted : 31/08/2021 12:23 am
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The logos on Shimano QRs only read correctly if they are installed with the handle on the NDS. That's good enough for me 😉 🙂

 
Posted : 31/08/2021 12:30 am
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What markings are there on the original Rear axle

Unfortunately it is clean as a whistle. No markings whatsoever other than torque indication on the outside. It is 180mm long and 12mm diameter.

 
Posted : 31/08/2021 6:41 pm
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On a road bike holiday in the Alps i was castigated by an old British guy about my qr's being on the wrong side. "They should be on the pavement side so that when you have a puncture the team mechanic from the support car can change the wheel more easily." What an idiot !

 
Posted : 01/09/2021 7:59 am
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Never mind which side... What angle should it be at?! 🙂

 
Posted : 01/09/2021 11:21 am
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@Oceanskipper take a look at this, this might help you work out if you need new axle or not...
https://www.thruaxle.com/understanding-specs.php

 
Posted : 01/09/2021 12:12 pm

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Never mind which side… What angle should it be at?! 🙂

key question - surely has to look tidy, so lever parallel alongside the front fork, and either parallel along the chain stay, or between the chain and seat stays.

Someone i knew had their QR lever locked and sticking below the fork end, and it got flipped out by an obstacle on the trail, wheel came off and they ended up decking it badly.

 
Posted : 01/09/2021 12:15 pm
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totally irrelevant but i remember the original pace bike (square tubed) promo shots i use to drool over as a teenager had the rear qr lever on the same side as the rear mech and i thought it was super cool.
i replicate it on my cannondale for about a week until i realise it was just way more awkward.

 
Posted : 01/09/2021 12:59 pm
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Thanks @susepic

What I need it seems is a twist lever that is 12mm diameter. 180mm in length and with a thread pitch of 1.75.

Can't find one anywhere though....

 
Posted : 01/09/2021 3:40 pm