Removing And Installing Bolt-On Wheels - Giant Bicycles Owner's Manual

(5) Tighten the quick-release adjusting nut until it is finger tight against
the frame dropout; then swing the lever toward the front of the bike until it is
parallel to the frame's chainstay or seatstay and is curved toward the wheel
(fig. 7a & fig. 8). To apply enough clamping force, you should have to wrap
your fingers around a frame tube for leverage, and the lever should leave a
clear imprint in the palm of your hand.
WARNING: Securely clamping the wheel takes considerable force. If
you can fully close the quick release without wrapping your fingers around
the seatstay or chainstay for leverage, and the lever does not leave a clear
imprint in the palm of your hand, the tension is insufficient. Open the lever;
turn the tension adjusting nut clockwise a quarter turn; then try again.
The rear wheel must be secured to the bicycle frame with sufficient force
so that it cannot be pulled forward by the chain, even under the greatest
pedaling force. If the wheel moves under pedaling force, the tire can touch
the frame, which can cause you to loose control and fall.
(6) If the lever cannot be pushed all the way to a position parallel to the
chainstay or seatstay tube, return the lever to the OPEN position. Then turn
the adjusting nut counterclockwise one-quarter turn and try tightening again.
(7) Push the rear derailleur back into position.
(8) Re-engage the brake quick-release mechanism to restore correct brake
pad-to-rim clearance; spin the wheel to make sure that it is centered in the
frame and clears the brake pads; then squeeze the brake lever and make
sure that the brakes are operating correctly.

3. Removing and Installing Bolt-On Wheels

a. Removing a Bolt-On Front Wheel
(1) If your bike has rim brakes, disengage the brake's quick-release
mechanism to increase the clearance between the tire and the brake pads
(see Section 4.C, figs. 11 through 15).
(2) Using a correct size wrench, loosen the two axle nuts.
(3) If your front fork has a clip-on type secondary retention device,
disengage it and go to he next step. If your front fork has
an integral secondary retention device, loosen the axle nuts
enough to allow wheel removal; then go to the next step.
(4) Raise the front wheel a few inches off the ground and
tap the top of the wheel with the palm of your hand to knock
the wheel out of the fork ends.
b. Installing a Bolt-On Front Wheel
(1) With the steering fork facing forward, insert the wheel between the fork
blades so that the axle seats firmly at the top of the slots which are at the tips
of the fork blades. The axle nut washers should be on the outside, between
the fork blade and the axle nut. If your bike has a clip-on type secondary
retention device, engage it.
(2) While pushing the wheel firmly to the top of the slots in the fork
dropouts, and at the same time centering the wheel rim in the fork, use the
correct size wrench to tighten the axle nuts enough so that the wheel stays in
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