FREEHUB LUBRICATION IN SITU.

BR 1979

Hi - Is it possible to lubricate a freehub in situ?

I'm getting hideous chain slap and derailleur coming forward if I attempt to freewheel. When standing and wheeling the bike it clicks audibly once per revolution so I presume one of the pawls is sticking.

I haven't the time or inclination or tools at the moment to strip the thing down and do a proper job - Can I drip some oil in as a "sticking plaster" for the next week or so?

How and where?

Any advice appreciated. Thanks.

(Oh, WHR500 wheels with (I think) Sora cassette, if it matters.)

mrdsgs

no

ugo.santalucia

Removing it it's no big deal... take off the cassette, undo the hub nuts, move the axle away, remove the bearing balls, then insert a 10 mm Allen Key and turn counterclockwise and it will come off... then reassemble...

Actually it is a bit of a drag with cone/balls....

topdude

As above, no short cut i'm afraid. Remove and lube or replace before it seizes completely :?

Nigel Bennett

Even if you do remove the freehub, you still can't get into it to lubricate it. The short answer is to fit a new one.

Only other alternative is to park the wheel on its side, freehub uppermost and remove tha cassette. Pour some WD40 or thin oil into the annular groove on the outside of the freehub - fill it up and hope it runs past the seals. It might also get into your wheel bearings too and wash out the grease there, so removing the freehub as per previous posts is probably best.

ugo.santalucia

Nigel Bennett wrote:

Even if you do remove the freehub, you still can't get into it to lubricate it. The short answer is to fit a new one.

Only other alternative is to park the wheel on its side, freehub uppermost and remove tha cassette. Pour some WD40 or thin oil into the annular groove on the outside of the freehub - fill it up and hope it runs past the seals. It might also get into your wheel bearings too and wash out the grease there, so removing the freehub as per previous posts is probably best.

... extreme...

andy_wrx

Running it in from the outside will also wash-in grit and cr@p, so I wouldn't do that.

And having done it, you'd then have a freehub with no grease in it, just WD40 which isn't a lubricant.

You could take it off, remove the rubber seal from the inside face and then you could pour some decent lubricant into it.


I had a WHR550 freehub go in exactly the way you are describing
- out of the garage, clip-in push-off and the chain would go tight because the freehub wasn't freewheeling, then bit of a clang as it freed itself off and it would work fine for the rest of the ride
- that went on for a few weeks, then I didn't use the bike for a few days and next time I tried it the freehub had seized solid.

Last time I looked, CRC were selling WH-R550 freehubs for £17ish, it might be a different part number but I bet that will fit your WH-R500's : I replaced my WH-R550 one with one from a 4400 Tiagra rear hub, which was a different part number again...

desweller

Depends on how desperate you are and how messy you're prepared to get.

I bet the following would work:

1. Remove freehub and carefully wipe any muck and rubbish off
2. Warm up some new engine oil in a saucepan (~60 degrees C), enough to submerge the freehub
3. Add two tablespoons of moly-based grease and mix in thoroughly
4. Submerge freehub and twirl it around for a few minutes
5. Allow to cool and drain

Not something I'd bother doing myself unless the alternative (replacing the unit) was hideously expensive. Awkward, messy, time-consuming and difficult to get permission from the OH for doing that sort of stuff in the kitchen!

ugo.santalucia

DesWeller wrote:

Depends on how desperate you are and how messy you're prepared to get.

I bet the following would work:

1. Remove freehub and carefully wipe any muck and rubbish off
2. Warm up some new engine oil in a saucepan (~60 degrees C), enough to submerge the freehub
3. Add two tablespoons of moly-based grease and mix in thoroughly
4. Submerge freehub and twirl it around for a few minutes
5. Allow to cool and drain

Not something I'd bother doing myself unless the alternative (replacing the unit) was hideously expensive. Awkward, messy, time-consuming and difficult to get permission from the OH for doing that sort of stuff in the kitchen!

I like your Jamie Oliver approach to lubrication very much....

John.T

andy_wrx wrote:

You could take it off, remove the rubber seal from the inside face and then you could pour some decent lubricant into it.

+1. I do this once or twice a winter while re-greaseing the rear hub. 10 year old Ultegra seals are not so good.