Urgent Freewheel problem - Now sorted, Thanks!
in typical fashion a problem has developed a day before a ride I've been preparing a year for.
I was giving the bike a shake down today and noticed a prominent creak from the rear wheel. It occurs under load and on the stand when the pedals are turning but not whilst the wheel freewheels. It's the rear wheel and not the BB. I took off the freewheel and there is a little corrosion where the freewheel touches the hub but its minor. I gave it a good clear out and re-greased the threads and then re assembled but the creaking remains. I've also noticed that when the wheel is spinning there is a definite "wobble" in the freewheel on the vertical axis. i.e. up and down and not in and out. The wheel is true.
I'm at a loss and have tomorrow to fix it. The LBS will be rammed as it's the day before the event so I'm on my own or out of the event. Any ideas?
I can get another freewheel tomorrow but I'm wondering if it's an issue with the hub rather than the freewheel. I've never messed with wheel hubs before so don't know what to do there if it's that.......
I was giving the bike a shake down today and noticed a prominent creak from the rear wheel. It occurs under load and on the stand when the pedals are turning but not whilst the wheel freewheels. It's the rear wheel and not the BB. I took off the freewheel and there is a little corrosion where the freewheel touches the hub but its minor. I gave it a good clear out and re-greased the threads and then re assembled but the creaking remains. I've also noticed that when the wheel is spinning there is a definite "wobble" in the freewheel on the vertical axis. i.e. up and down and not in and out. The wheel is true.
I'm at a loss and have tomorrow to fix it. The LBS will be rammed as it's the day before the event so I'm on my own or out of the event. Any ideas?
I can get another freewheel tomorrow but I'm wondering if it's an issue with the hub rather than the freewheel. I've never messed with wheel hubs before so don't know what to do there if it's that.......
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Comments
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Could you borrow a rear wheel from someone and sort yours out when you have more time ?He is not the messiah, he is a very naughty boy !!0
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I wish. (wow quick reply by the way)
No - I'm afraid not. No-one would have one. They ride those mountain bike thingies.0 -
The wobble in the freehub is probably OK - many bikes do it. Take the wheel out the frame and remove the QR to check that the spindle isn't bent/ broken. Creaking is probably due to worn / poorly adjusted / lubed bearings which only take a few minutes to sort with the right tools - your LBS should be able to sell you a cone spanner / tools to sorts it out.Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..0
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I've just stripped and regreased the bearings. Still creaking. It is not happening when the wheel freewheels, just when the drivechain is engaged. It all looks lined up.
I'm at a loss. I'm now doing the head scraching staring at it thing.......0 -
I agree about the wobble, I have it on my Mavics. Have you tried removing the rear mech hanger, cleaning and re-greasing? Especially if it's a non carbon rear triangle and you've ridden the bike in the wet/muck at some stage.0
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Stupid question: Have you taken the cassette off to have a closer look at the freehub play?
If the wheel still spins and freewheels, then at least the ratchets still work. Exactly how much play are you talking about?0 -
The freewheel is spinning fine both in freewheel and when engaged with the chain - it just seems to be creaking when it's going forward with the chain. If I carefully turn the freewheel by hand forward (so it turns the pedals) when the creak occurs there is a very faint judder in the freewheel. I know the bearings. cones etc are sound and greased so I'm hoping that some crap has got in the freewheel and is fouling the ratchets somehow. I'm popping out this morning and getting another freewheel as they're only about £8, if it still occurs after that then it's back to square one. I didn't do it straight away as it's only done about 1K so should be fine. Still, fingers crossed!
May have to resort to standing on the door of the LBS looking forlorn in the hope they take pity on me and have a look
Cheers so far - will keep this updated as if it sorts it it may help someone else in the future.0 -
New Freewheel fixed the issue. Thanks for the suggestions - I didn't get to suspecting the freewheel until I'd done the cones and bearings and checked the hanger. I've no idea what was up with the freewheel but there was some minor corrosion inside, not on the threads but on the metal that would sit flush against the wheel hub. You could just feel the play in the freewheel when it audibly creaked but you had to rotate the freewheel very slowly forward while keeping your fingers in contact with the sprockets to feel it. It was fine when freewheeling so was easy to rule out the fault being the freewheel itself. Really did make a racket though. New freewheel - plenty of grease and she purrs.
Hopefully this might help someone else in future. I was just about to accept the need to get a modern cassette - with a whole new bike attached to it!!
On with the ride tomorrow! 0
