freewheel failing when frozen

tomb353
tomb353 Posts: 196
edited December 2010 in The workshop
a new one for me. Gears all froze this morning, then freewheel eventually failed (just spinning when the pedals rotate, not pushing the wheel round).

Took bike home defrosted it, all working fine again. Eventually managed to get to work but had to stop and borrow hot water from bike shop to defrost on the way.

Any ideas how to prevent this? Perhaps keep bike in bedroom overnight rather than the garage? Stop to pee on the rear hub occasionally? (it was -10 this morning so hopefully won't have this issue every day)
vendor of bicycle baskets & other stuff www.tynebicycle.co.uk
www.tynebicycle.co.uk/blog
Kinesis Tripster
Gazelle NY Cab
Surly Steamroller
Cannondale F100

Comments

  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,675
    get some grease in the hub to displace any water that is in there.

    what hub?
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • tomb353
    tomb353 Posts: 196
    its a standard shimano deore type disk hub. any tips on how to strip it, I have toils but have never gone further than removing cassette
    vendor of bicycle baskets & other stuff www.tynebicycle.co.uk
    www.tynebicycle.co.uk/blog
    Kinesis Tripster
    Gazelle NY Cab
    Surly Steamroller
    Cannondale F100
  • tomb353
    tomb353 Posts: 196
    shimano FH-M475
    vendor of bicycle baskets & other stuff www.tynebicycle.co.uk
    www.tynebicycle.co.uk/blog
    Kinesis Tripster
    Gazelle NY Cab
    Surly Steamroller
    Cannondale F100
  • jairaj
    jairaj Posts: 3,009
    check on Shimano's website they have quite an extensive database of manuals and technical documents.
  • tomb353
    tomb353 Posts: 196
    have been googling away on this and have found quite good instructions on removing the freehub body. There seems to be some debate on whether you can successfully flush or regrease them.
    vendor of bicycle baskets & other stuff www.tynebicycle.co.uk
    www.tynebicycle.co.uk/blog
    Kinesis Tripster
    Gazelle NY Cab
    Surly Steamroller
    Cannondale F100
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    Did this to my freehub earlier this year. Yep, need to let it thaw out. I thought Shimano freehub bodies were sealed?
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • Blue Meanie
    Blue Meanie Posts: 495
    Free Wheel Fails when Frozen? You mean it's Fixed? :D
    FCN16 - 1970 BSA Wayfarer

    FCN4 - Fixie Inc
  • tomb353
    tomb353 Posts: 196
    no not fixed, that would be ok, instead ratchet freezes and no power to rear wheel at all.

    In the end I found some quite good instructions from parktool on sorting out the rear hub, but in practice I just hung the rear wheel on a radiator all weekend to dry it out.
    vendor of bicycle baskets & other stuff www.tynebicycle.co.uk
    www.tynebicycle.co.uk/blog
    Kinesis Tripster
    Gazelle NY Cab
    Surly Steamroller
    Cannondale F100
  • MichaelW
    MichaelW Posts: 2,164
    The grease is getting too stiff in cold temps. There is a device that makes replacing the grease easy:the Morningstar Freehub Buddy.
    http://www.bikepro.com/products/hubs/hubacces.html

    You do have to remove the freehub and apply the tool to the rear end (ooo Matron)

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