Old racer doesn't like free-wheeling...

[Adam]

Hi All,

So my faithful old racer has started acting up. Sorry for
the following lack of technical terms...

The group of cogs close to the back axle is ceasing up in
relation to the back wheel - so I can't free-wheel or
backpeddle. A bit of encouragement loosens it up but it's
still very stiff.

Are my bearings going/gone? Am I going to have to buy a new
wheel? :-(

Thanks for any thoughts, Adam

--
Adam Richardson Email me at: stonemonkey@ntlworld~nonono~dot
com Carpe Diem

[Nc]

Adam wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> So my faithful old racer has started acting up. Sorry for
> the following lack of technical terms...
>
> The group of cogs close to the back axle is ceasing up in
> relation to the back wheel - so I can't free-wheel or
> backpeddle. A bit of encouragement loosens it up but it's
> still very stiff.
>
> Are my bearings going/gone? Am I going to have to buy a
> new wheel? :-(

The freewheel is probably gummed up with muck or rust. If
you can't get it cleaned out, it is a replaceable part.

If its an "old racer" it might be old enough to have a screw-
on hub. They started to go out of fashion around the early
1990's, though would still be fitted to new bikes until at
least the mid 1990's. More recent designs have the cogs on a
splined cassette which fits over the freewheel part.

Any competant bike shop can change the freewheel very
quickly.

I'd suggest that a screw-on type is less than 10 minutes
work to replace with the wheel loose in the hand. You'd also
be recommended to change the chain at the same time so that
a new chain runs on new sprockets. Depending on wear you
might be recommended to change the front sprockets as well
(though probably not necessary). You can also take the
opportunity to consider changing the ratios on the sprockets
at the same time.

The cassette types take a little longer as various parts
need to be removed in stages, though I'd have thought well
under the hour including reassembly. You can re-use the
sprocket cassette on the new freewheel, so there won't be
chains to purchase.

Parts should be under £30, and possibly under £20 (including
chain if required) unless paying for exotic materials.

regards,

- Nigel

--
NC - Webmaster for http://www.2mm.org.uk/ Replies to
newsgroup postings to the newsgroup please.

[Andy]

"Adam" <cooladamrichardson@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:%%zgc.789$mE.550@newsfe1-win...
> Hi All,
>
> So my faithful old racer has started acting up. Sorry for
> the following lack of technical terms...
>
> The group of cogs close to the back axle is ceasing up in
> relation to the back wheel - so I can't free-wheel or
> backpeddle. A bit of encouragement loosens it up but it's
> still very stiff.
>
> Are my bearings going/gone? Am I going to have to buy a
> new wheel? :-(
>
> Thanks for any thoughts, Adam
>
> --
> Adam Richardson Email me at:
> stonemonkey@ntlworld~nonono~dot com Carpe Diem

Have you never heard of maintenance?

[Adam]

NC wrote:
> Adam wrote:
>
>>Hi All,
>>
>>So my faithful old racer has started acting up. Sorry for
>>the following lack of technical terms...
>>
>>The group of cogs close to the back axle is ceasing up in
>>relation to the back wheel - so I can't free-wheel or
>>backpeddle. A bit of encouragement loosens it up but it's
>>still very stiff.
>>
>>Are my bearings going/gone? Am I going to have to buy a
>>new wheel? :-(
>
> [snip lots of useful stuff]

OK, I'm not sure how old the bike is - it's pretty basic and
was bought 2nd hand in 97ish so is probably the old style...

Oh, I've noticed a new symptom. Following some heavy oiling/fiddling-
with the wheel spins a bit now, but makes a ticking sound -
I guess its some muck stuck in there?

I'll have a go at taking the freewheel off and cleaning it
up. If not, I guess I'll take the bike into a shop and have
a chat about stuff. (I've had a problem with the front
sprocket for a while, so it might be the right time for a
bit of an overhaul ;-)

Thanks for the info Nigel, Adam

--
Adam Richardson Email me at: stonemonkey@ntlworld~nonono~dot
com Carpe Diem

[David Martin]

On 18/4/04 9:44 pm, in article 3LBgc.827$mE.739@newsfe1-win, "Adam"
<cooladamrichardson@yahoo.com> wrote:

> Oh, I've noticed a new symptom. Following some heavy oiling/fiddling-
> with the wheel spins a bit now, but makes a ticking sound
> - I guess its some muck stuck in there?

Its supposed to go tick as it spins. Inside the freewheel
are a series of ridges on one part and a series of little
sprung wedges (pawls) on the other. When you pedal, the
wedges jam against the ridges and turn the wheel. When you
backpedal the pawls lift over the ridges and drop back down
with a tick. This may be what you are hearing. A very fast
tick with many ticks per wheel revolution.

..d

[Adam]

David Martin wrote:

> On 18/4/04 9:44 pm, in article 3LBgc.827$mE.739@newsfe1-
> win, "Adam" <cooladamrichardson@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>
>
>>Oh, I've noticed a new symptom. Following some heavy oiling/fiddling-
>>with the wheel spins a bit now, but makes a ticking sound
>>- I guess its some muck stuck in there?
>
>
> Its supposed to go tick as it spins. Inside the freewheel
> are a series of ridges on one part and a series of little
> sprung wedges (pawls) on the

Doh! Of course, I would have realised that if I'd
bothered to engage my brain! Ludicrous - every bike in
the world makes that noise and I didn't even realise what
I was writing!

Adam

--
Adam Richardson Email me at: stonemonkey@ntlworld~nonono~dot
com Carpe Diem

[Zog The Undenia]

Adam wrote:

> Hi All,
>
> So my faithful old racer has started acting up. Sorry for
> the following lack of technical terms...
>
> The group of cogs close to the back axle is ceasing up in
> relation to the back wheel - so I can't free-wheel or
> backpeddle. A bit of encouragement loosens it up but it's
> still very stiff.
>
> Are my bearings going/gone? Am I going to have to buy a
> new wheel? :-(
>
> Thanks for any thoughts, Adam
>
Soak it in solvent (white spirit or something more enviro-
friendly) overnight, then allow it to dry and flush with
lots of thin oil. This should get it going properly. Or buy
a new one - they're only about a tenner. Removing it is the
tricky part as it will be screwed on tighter than <insert
crude simile involving camels and sandstorms>.

It's actually far more distressing if the pawls seize
the other way, so they won't engage - then you have a
fine coasting machine with no drive. Some cyclists have
been known to pee on freewheels in an effort to free
them on the road.