Internal vs external cam skewers
Moderator: robbosmans
So, I had a external cam skewer fail on my gravel road bike last week. The plastic washer cracked. I did not notice till I got home and took off the wheels. I replaced both skewers with some old velocity internal cams.
Have others had any external cams fail or am I just being paranoid? I have a few pairs of campy/DA/velocity internal cam skewers as well as a set of Tune internal cam.
I know there is a great weight difference between the 2 types of skewers but I will be using the internals from now on for my own piece of mind and safety.
Have others had any external cams fail or am I just being paranoid? I have a few pairs of campy/DA/velocity internal cam skewers as well as a set of Tune internal cam.
I know there is a great weight difference between the 2 types of skewers but I will be using the internals from now on for my own piece of mind and safety.
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I've never had any problems with the external cam skewers except for lack of "grip strength" on disc forks. I make sure to squirt a drop of lube on the cam mechanism from time to time, which isn't necessary with internal cam skewers.
There's a wide variety of external cam skewers. Some very well made -- and with brass bushings, not plastic -- some very cheaply made.
My advice is to not skimp on cheaply made and potentially dangerous skewers in general.
My advice is to not skimp on cheaply made and potentially dangerous skewers in general.
Specialized Tarmac Sworks SL6, Moots Compact, Carl Strong Titanium
99% of the time I'm on either Shimano or Campagnolo skewers. I do have a set of WW skewers, the Tune internal cams from a while ago. I guess they hold the wheel in place, but they never feel as comforting to my hands/head when I use them.
I've tried various external cam skewers and have now come back to Campagnolo internal ones (Shimano would have done just as well). The cam action is ultra smooth, plus they appear to be easier to unclamp when I puncture on cold rides and my fingers are numb.
Can anyone suggest light steel skewers that won't break the bank? I'm using skewers that came with Fulcrum R3 (heavy). I tried KCNC Z6 but they creaked a lot and I binned them.
- btompkins0112
- Posts: 2635
- Joined: Fri Feb 11, 2011 3:04 am
- Location: Mississippi
I am always on Shimano skewers.....not worth the risk for me.
Mosaic RS-1
http://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=138478
Cielo by Chris King Cross Racer
http://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=134376
http://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=138478
Cielo by Chris King Cross Racer
http://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=134376
I know its not internal cam but I have had great luck with zipp skewers. The TI ones are 60g but I use the SS ones at like 80g and they have been great. Have em on 2 bikes.
I think there is a difference btw good external cam skewers and crappy external cam skewers. That said I also have some A2Z titanium skewers that were cheap and never gave me a problem. They clamp fine as well. Not as nice as my campy ones that are on the vintage bike but they have worked ok. I try not to cheap out on the skewers, its a stupid place to save money and weight on.
I think there is a difference btw good external cam skewers and crappy external cam skewers. That said I also have some A2Z titanium skewers that were cheap and never gave me a problem. They clamp fine as well. Not as nice as my campy ones that are on the vintage bike but they have worked ok. I try not to cheap out on the skewers, its a stupid place to save money and weight on.
Not cheap, but aliens 3 all the way.
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I'm now also on a different kind of skewer. For my road disc bike i opted for a little extra stiffness with 9/10mm DT RWS thru bolt skewers (to be used with normal dropouts).
These are also available as normal 5mm versions with a steel or titan axle.
Mine are 126g/set so not that much heavier compared to DA internal cam skewers.
With the normal 5mm axle in titanium they are even lighter. Really worth the try, work perfect for me.
These are also available as normal 5mm versions with a steel or titan axle.
Mine are 126g/set so not that much heavier compared to DA internal cam skewers.
With the normal 5mm axle in titanium they are even lighter. Really worth the try, work perfect for me.