Giant 2002 Motorized Bicycle owner manual 6.3Frontwheelquickrelease, General

6.3Frontwheelquickrelease

6.3.1 General

WARNING:

Riding with an improperly adjusted wheel

quick-release can allow the wheel to wobble or

disengage from the bicycle, which may cause

damage to the bicycle and serious injury to the

rider. Therefore, it is essential that you:

a. ask your dealer for assistance in installing and removing your wheels safely

b. understand and apply the correct technique for clamping your wheel in place with a quick-release

c. check that the wheel is securely clamped in the fork before each and every ride.

FIG. 19

Because of its adjustable nature, it is critical that you understand how a quick-release lever cam works and how to use it properly. While it may appear at first glance to be a nut and bolt configuration (a long bolt with a lever on one end and a nut on the other), in fact the wheel quick-release uses a cam action to clamp the bike’s wheel in place (see fig. 19).

CAUTION:

Holding the nut with one hand and turning the lever like a wing nut with the other hand until

tight will not clamp the wheel safely in the dropouts. The full force of the cam action is needed to clamp the wheel securely.

6.3.2Adjusting the quick-release mechanism

The wheel’s hub is clamped in place by the force of the quick-release cam pushing against one dropout and pulling the tension adjusting nut, by way of the skewer, against

the other dropout. The amount of clamping force is controlled by the tension adjusting nut. Turning the tension adjusting nut clockwise while keeping the cam lever from rotating increases clamping force; turning it anti-clockwise while keeping the cam lever from rotating reduces clamping force. Less than half a turn of the tension adjusting nut can make the difference between safe clamping force and unsafe clamping force.

NOTE:

Once the quick-release is installed in the hub axle by the manufacturer or the dealer, it

never needs to be removed unless the hub itself requires servicing. If the hub requires servicing, consult your dealer.

6.3.3 Front wheel secondary retention devices

Lafree Twist is equipped with a secondary wheel retention device (see fig. 20) to keep the wheel from disengaging if the quick- release is incorrectly adjusted or the cam opens accidentally. Secondary retention devices are not a substitute for correct quick- release adjustment.

The secondary retention device is integral with the fork dropouts and is recessed for the quick-release lever that keeps the wheel from dropping out of the fork’s dropouts should the quick-release lever open accidentally. However, these tabs are not designed to keep the wheel in place should the quick-release lever open accidentally. If you hear or feel looseness coming from the front wheel, stop riding immediately and check the quick-release tension. Ask your dealer to explain Lafree’s secondary retention device in more detail.

FIG. 20

Secondary

retention device

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