[Xylx]

So yesterday I bought a Heller Bloodhound off CL for a future project. Odd bike with a mix of decent components and utter garbage (drivetrain). Front fork is a carbon Bontrager Naru Pro. When I was taking the front wheel off to load it in my vehicle I noticed something was off with the front axle quick release. Didn't think much of it at the time, thought the owner just didn't get quick releases. When I went to put the wheel back on, the quick release would not close with the right amount of tension unless it's in the full downward position. If I back it off enough to tuck it in at 90 degrees facing back there's no grip. It's a standard 15x150 thru axle or should be. It's like the threads are not long enough. So I pulled it out and measured it. The axle is 195mm. Most 15x150s I'm seeing on online websites are all 198mm. Would 3mm make that big of a difference? I'm thinking of just buying a non quick release Rock Shox "Maxle" and calling it good. Could be I'm boned though and the fork is bad or something. I don't want to waste $43 on a Maxle if possible. Any thoughts appreciated.

 

[fortnern]

EDIT: Remove incorrect information. Apparently there's a little screw under the lever that you can use to change the orientation of the lever when the mechanism is properly tightened. See later posts.</edit>

Also mine isn't really a quick release, you still need to unscrew the axle multiple turns to take it out. I've seen gravel bikes with a weird cam mechanism that allows a thru axle to actually be QR, did Trek switch to that scheme? If so, I don't know anything about it.

 

[nOOky]

So it's not a quick release but a thru axle right? It's a through axle that you screw in until it is the desired tightness, and then the lever is not in the position you want it to be? In that case the lever either comes off with a pop, or the lever is able to be pulled out slightly, and re-adjusted to whatever position you want it in. From what you are describing anyway, a pic would help.

 

[bcriverjunky]

It should have a bolt with a removable lever. https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/...ever-front-thru-axle/p/26600/?colorCode=black

 

[fortnern]

It should have a bolt with a removable lever. https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/...ever-front-thru-axle/p/26600/?colorCode=black View attachment 1965464

Mine didn't come with that style of thru axle - mine works like a conventional QR skewer.

 

[Xylx]

So it's not a quick release but a thru axle right? It's a through axle that you screw in until it is the desired tightness, and then the lever is not in the position you want it to be? In that case the lever either comes off with a pop, or the lever is able to be pulled out slightly, and re-adjusted to whatever position you want it in. From what you are describing anyway, a pic would help.

Right. I should not be calling it a quick release when it's a thru axle. It's not an old school skewer. This is only my second bike with thru axles so thanks for helping me out. Although I had a Bultaco motorcycle in the 1970s with thru axles (I'm old) and it makes me wonder why it took so long for mountain bikes to catch up. You are correct. I screwed it in then there's a hex head on the cam which I backed off, slid the cam adjuster facing backwards so it doesn't catch on a rock (unlikely in snow) and tightened it down. Old habits die hard. I'll put the Maxle money towards a better drivetrain. Here's before and after photos.
BEFORE

AFTER