Replace vintage rear 26" wheel, with what?

[sunbird]

Just visited my LBS. They told me it's possible to go from nutted to QR without an issue (?) The problem is, my old MTB has 130mm spacing on the rear dropouts and new wheels are 135mm.

 

[Punkawallah]

Be specific about this scenario. Why won’t it work?

Only my grandkids get to make demands on me - and I don’t have any that I’m aware of.

 

[Big John]

Just visited my LBS. They told me it's possible to go from nutted to QR without an issue (?) The problem is, my old MTB has 130mm spacing on the rear dropouts and new wheels are 135mm.

Shame you're not local to me. I've got a big bag of qr axles of varying widths and you could have a 130mm for nowt. Don't ever throw stuff away. All bike parts become useful in the end. Try a local bike charity if you have one nearby. Ours would charge about 50p in the charity box.

 

[Ajax Bay]

Your local recycling centre will have wheels like this (130mm OLN, rim brake, 559 dia ETRTO (all assumed)). Might have to buy the whole bike, but just take tools, strip anything else marginally worth it (by the car) and 'recycle' the bits you don't immediately.
Don't get hung up about the nut to QR change. Life is too short. and no rational thief will steal a QR (as opposed to nutted) wheel of this standard.
Also see the charity recycling thread with UK-wide list of places, as well as municipal sites.
And calling 1990s "vintage" - lol.

 

[sunbird]

My LBS phoned and said they could build a 'new' wheel with a refurbished hub... for 140 knicker. Bluddy Ell, that's more than the bike's worth. So it's skip diving or finding then dismembering an old banger or, taking a chance on Ebay.

 

[All uphill]

Really, you are overthinking this. As others have said there are lots of good 26" wheels of all kinds looking for a good home.

Try a local bike recycling charity, go to your council recycling site, check out gumtree and Freecycle.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Don't get hung up about the nut to QR change. Life is too short.

Yes! I'd like to echo this.

Nuts are fine, QRs are fine*. I replaced a nutted rear wheel on my old Dawes with a QR one and life went on. In fact I replaced it with a hub that was a few mm too wide for the frame. It just meant a bit of brute force was required when inserting/removing the wheel. If the bike is a bit old and tatty then don't worry. Obviously if it's a period correct restoration you might think differently.

* except for fixed gear, but that's not relevant here.