Freehub service - help please, first time doing it.

wolfsbane2k

Hey.
Ridden home tonight and about halfway home the ride got a lot harder, I put this down to headwind, but on arriving at home span the rear wheel and it built up to an awful racket that hasn't been there before; it actually increased in volume and tone for about ten seconds after I had stopped spinning the wheel

I'm assuming I've split a bearing or two in the hub, or its run dry of grease over winter, but I've never taken over apart before to inspect.

Its a btwin 500se bike, but currently an unknown freehub.

Any helpful hints/ pointers at good howto videos on YouTube (I've done a search and there is a lot, none seem to be in enough detail for me) would be great fully appreciated.

(Just remembered I also have the park tools blue book somewhere, but where...)

nicklouse

First you need to ID the hub.

The freehub may or may not be servicable

Pics of freehub if you can't ID it will let us guess if no one has done one.

wolfsbane2k

Finally managed to pull off the cassette with a whip, , I just couldnt get the force and angle applied right. The cassette locknut said sunrace.



Looks like the bearing surface is knackered, so need a new freehub anyway. As I took it apart, the bearings were still covered in grease, but slightly gritty. The bearings are rather dull now as well.

However, I don't have a 12mm Allen key so cant get the hub off at the moment, looks like a halfrauds trip tomorrow.

jermas

The Sunrace part is just the make of the cassette. The hub could possibly be a Quando. If so, a replacement freehub might be hard to get hold of, so possibly buy a whole hub and swap the parts. If it's a Quando, I think the freehub mounting bolt could be a size 11mm which isn't a common size (possibly not at halfords). 7/16 imperial should fit.
I'd be inclined to just flush the freehub (from the side you can see in your photo) with penetrating fluid (wd40) -then relube with wet chain lube or 3in1 (from same side). Check it's functioning. Then, just install new ball bearings with marine grease, and adjust with a tiny amount of play. The hub might be slightly rough due to the pitted races, but will be perfectly functional.

apreading

To be honest though, the wheels supplied with the Btwin bikes are very heavy and not that good. It just isnt worth spending the money on a new freehub etc. You would be better off buying something like this: http://www.superstarcomponents.com/en/c ... s-2024.htm for £99 if you can cope with white or red rims.

I would see this as fate telling you to get some reasonable wheels on the bike.

wolfsbane2k

Thanks for the feedback. After looking around a couple of shops today I found a 11mm and 12mm hex key, so will try and get it off later and have a go at flushing it out with wd40.

I wasn't sure about the cassette locknut being the cassette, rather than the freehub, but guessed as much.

I've got some lithium based thick grease somewhere which I have used on pedals before, was going to use that after the flush rather than a marine grease.

I'm aware the wheels that come with the bike are heavy, buts its a stop gap before I get a full adventure tourer (130kg), and I really don't like the look of those icon eclipse in those colours!

I'm heading to decathlon next week, so will take it back to them to check over under the 2 year guarantee (considering weak hubs have been reported a number of times in reviews)

apreading

Just dont waste money on a new freehub or anything like that - you would be better off buying some wheels like this: https://www.merlincycles.com/shimano-wh ... 49086.html Not as light as the superstar ones but way better than the standard ones and a freehub, grease and bearings for the ones you have would cost you most of that amount...

wolfsbane2k

Well, have cleaned it out to learn thr process, twice with wd40 and than a quick 30 secs in an ultrasonic cleaner, left to dry and regreased, then refitted to the wheel.
Runs significantly better than it did, but still sticky in a specific spot, probably aligning with the dents in the bearing race. Will do until I get some new wheels.
And found out a new freehub from decathlon is a fiver, so less than the chemicals I used to clean it out, let alone my time!
But a learning experience, so worth it.

keef66

Wolfsbane2k wrote:

And found out a new freehub from decathlon is a fiver

Crikey! That is cheap. You could afford to stick a new one on every spring.

apreading

Yes - at a fiver, buy a couple quick!

I would have guessed £40-50...

ilovegrace

Jumping in here.
Planet x london road disc wheels.
Was advised that the wheels were on the way out, LBS had a look and said new bearings req, LBS fitted bearings went on my Sunday ride by the end I had creaks galore , cassette wobbling all over the place , back to lbs your free hub as gone ? new free hub required , waiting on PX reply but seem to be around £35.
So £15 for truing a few weeks ago £15 for new bearings , £35 for hub plus fitting ?
Should I have biught new wheels ?
regards
ILG

wolfsbane2k

Well, that's a surprise.
Found that decathlon are no longer replacing freehubs, but complete wheels nowadays. I think they've accepted the wheels, hubs and seals aren't good enough for the UK, and therefore under SOGA they need to replace them: Verified here:

"I am sorry to hear about the problems you have faced with the wheels on the Triban 500SE. When you purchased the bike there was a known issue with the seal in the hub which has since been improved but still not as good as it needs to be for the UK. B'Twin will be replacing the wheelset in the future due to the ongoing issues we had previously.

Rob Basnett b'Twin Product Expert DECATHLON

apreading

I like the way they say 'not as good as it needs to be for the UK', as if it would be fine for other countries... Perhaps where they dont have SOGA??