Cannondale Chase Series Owner's Manual page 24

3. Move the quick-release lever to the OPEN
position (see fig. 7b). The lever should be on
the side of the wheel opposite the derailleur
and freewheel sprockets.
4. Put the chain on top of the smallest freewheel
sprocket. Then, insert the wheel into the
frame dropouts and pull it all the way in to the
dropouts.
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.
The clamping action of a correctly adjusted
quick release must emboss the surface of the
dropouts.
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.
Figure 8. Rear Wheel in Dropouts.
Figure 9. Front Wheel.
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. The clamping action
of a correctly adjusted quick release must
emboss the surface of the dropouts. 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.

OPEN