measuring for quick release

[KayInFL]

I am NOT a cyclist! A friend gave me an old mountain bike and I'd like to put a quick release on the front wheel so I can put it in the car. No budget to speak of, so can't take this to a bike shop for help.
I bought 1 Pair MTB Quick Release Bicycle Hub, Road Mountain Bike Front & Rear Axle Hollow Shaft Set with Standard Spacing for about $10 on Amazon (that's my budget) but they seem to be too short. Product description:

• The short release lever for front wheel, hollow shaft size: approx.11cm / 4.33", quick release: approx.16cm / 6.3"

I have to loosen the nuts almost till they fall off, and I just manage to fight the wheel on. Then I'm worried there's no thread holding the nuts on.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Hi and welcome to CC
Surely the cheapest way for you to put the bike in the car would be to carry a 15mm spanner, it does not take long to undo the nuts.
Remember to release the brakes first, and remember to re-engage then after you put the wheel back on
If you are going to ride this bike, you are a cyclist!

 

[KayInFL]

Hi and welcome to CC
Surely the cheapest way for you to put the bike in the car would be to carry a 15mm spanner, it does not take long to undo the nuts.

That's true -- I had been under the impression that a quick release would be very convenient, and I've already got so many obstacles to my getting out and exercising, I hoped at least one could be removed.

 

[I like Skol]

Standard front axle spacing is 100mm between dropouts, commonly refered to as OLN (Over Lock Nut) and illustrated in this image of a rear hub

https://www.sheldonbrown.com/images/old.jpg

https://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_sp-ss.html#spacing

The axle will be approx 10-11mm longer than this so that the ends locate properly in the frame/fork dropouts.

This means that a quick release axle is a lot shorter than a none QR axle.

 

[Smokin Joe]

From what I understand the OP has to slacken off the nut on the QR to get the wheel in and out of the fork. The fork legs have "Lawyer lips" to prevent the wheel from falling out if someone is stupid and brain dead enough to try and ride without locking the QR lever. That means the nut opposite the lever does have to be undone first (And re-tightened afterwards) and it does note denote a problem.

 

[Ajax Bay]

OP - let us have a link to what you've bought. Agree with both comments above.

I bought 1 Pair MTB Quick Release Bicycle Hub, Road Mountain Bike Front & Rear Axle Hollow Shaft Set with Standard Spacing for about $10 on Amazon (that's my budget) but they seem to be too short. Product description:

• The short release lever for front wheel, hollow shaft size: approx.11cm / 4.33", quick release: approx.16cm / 6.3"

I have to loosen the nuts almost till they fall off, and I just manage to fight the wheel on. Then I'm worried there's no thread holding the nuts on.

In your bullet above, the hollow axle is for the front but the QR lever is the rear one (and the rear hollow axle will be 140mm). You should have a 122mm QR lever: that's for the front. "I'm worried there's no thread holding the nuts on" - with QR axles, there is no need for nuts.
In case it helps, here is a link to the famous Sheldon Brown site:
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/skewers.html

 

[BeardyAndyM]

From what I understand the OP has to slacken off the nut on the QR to get the wheel in and out of the fork. The fork legs have "Lawyer lips" to prevent the wheel from falling out if someone is stupid and brain dead enough to try and ride without locking the QR lever. That means the nut opposite the lever does have to be undone first (And re-tightened afterwards) and it does note denote a problem.

Never knew they were called Lawyer lips, every days a school day!

 

[KayInFL]

From what I understand the OP has to slacken off the nut on the QR to get the wheel in and out of the fork. The fork legs have "Lawyer lips" to prevent the wheel from falling out if someone is stupid and brain dead enough to try and ride without locking the QR lever. That means the nut opposite the lever does have to be undone first (And re-tightened afterwards) and it does note denote a problem.

What about just grinding down the lawyer lips? That would make it easier to slip the wheel off and on...

 

[Smokin Joe]

What about just grinding down the lawyer lips? That would make it easier to slip the wheel off and on...

Done that a few times.