My nuts keep spinning when I try to loosen them

Sorry if this is a common issue - I have tried the search here and on Sheldon Brown.... fail.

I have a problem loosening the (second) track nut when I'm removing the wheel.

I losen one of the track nuts (e.g. drive-side) on the rear wheel, no problem there... but when I try to loosen the other one (e.g. non-drive-side), the whole axle+bearings+nut turn at once. There is no way to loosen the second nut without using a flat spanner (aka cone wrench) on the bearing locknuts to hold the axle from spinning.

Does that make sense? Is this "normal"? It makes fixing flats a pain and now I need to carry a spanner and a flat cone wrench - that's shit IMO.

Track nut picture (courtesy of Sheldon Brown) above included in an attempt to minimize the chances we'll end up talking testicles - not mechanics of fixing a bicycle hub.

BTW I am using Aerorage wheels on a frame with steel track-fork ends (aka horizontal dropouts) w/ a MKS chain-tug. The chain-tug was installed (on the inside of the forks) after this problem first appeared and it is not related. I have added no spacers anywhere (other than the spacer that is already a part of the truck nut).

oups - the title is a mongrel of cut&paste - sorry.

the track nut has got a bit squished the inner and outer bits are catching
have had this a few times
best just replace with dura ace track nuts or at least some new ones

thanks dude - I'll try that next.

No, this is common with the halo and chosen hubsets.

The alloy bearing cap/locknut wears smooth and spins because it doesn't grip well enough to the inside of the dropout.

A grip washer between inner dropout and lock nut may or may not help.

this^

are you loosening one side all the way before loosening the other side? try loosening each together, i.e., half turn one, half turn the other?

are you loosening one side all the way before loosening the other side? try loosening each together, i.e., half turn one, half turn the other?

this ^.
Loosen them gradually and alternately.

are you loosening one side all the way before loosening the other side? try loosening each together, i.e., half turn one, half turn the other?

this ^.
Loosen them gradually and alternately.

^those

It's still difficult once they really start slipping. bit of a design/material fault really.

Long term I would suggest replacing the alloy caps with the spacers and back nuts from an on-one hub of similar, steel ones!

It's still difficult once they really start slipping. bit of a design/material fault really.

Long term I would suggest replacing the alloy caps with the spacers and back nuts from an on-one hub of similar, steel ones!

^ this.

yes to all of this.

but the best solution seems to be to get DA nuts.

^ that.

v this

Hold a chicken in the air
Stick a deckchair up your nose
Buy a jumbo jet
And then bury all your clothes
Paint your left knee green
Then extract your wisdom teeth
Form a string quartet
And pretend your name is Keith

Spooky.

Do you grease the axle before you put the tracknuts on? You need to reduce friction in the tracknut threads and increase friction between the hub locknuts and the inside faces of the droputs (/trackends). Using a centre-punch to put some pattern on the inside face of the dropouts might help too.

you should get some of d's.

+1 on greasing the spindle (and the nuts)
clean it all with paraffin and a toothbrush before you grease it but dont get any paraffin inside the hub.

I have this problem sometimes, I can get away with hand holding the spindle whilst undoing the tracknut. If this won't work you could grip the axle with a cone spanner. Do try cleaning the threads though - I just use WD40 and a soft schmutter (old cloth).

My nuts keep spinning when I try to loosen them ?
I would suggest going to see your doctor and getting a referral to see a consultant.
In the mean time don't try to loosen them.

My nuts keep spinning when I try to loosen them ?
I would suggest going to see your doctor and getting a referral to see a consultant.
In the mean time don't try to loosen them.

Track nut picture (courtesy of Sheldon Brown) above included in an attempt to minimize the chances we'll end up talking testicles - not mechanics of fixing a bicycle hub.

Ahem =P