Mountain Bike - Freewheel Clicking

In news:[email hidden],
rothers <[email hidden]> tweaked the Babbage-Engine to tell us:

Quoted message said:

Hi All,

I've only every rode bikes equipped with "lesser" freewheels, i.e
Shimano 105, Diore, Ultera, however last night I tried out a Orange
P7 Pro with (I think) a Hope freewheel.

When freewheeling the freewheel ratchet made a clicking noise (sprung
teeth ratcheting ?) that I've never noticed before on other bikes.

Is this normal ?

Yes. Hope freehubs do that, even when brand new. Or at least mine do.

--
Dave Larrington
<http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk>
Never play leapfrog with a unicorn.

rothers said the following on 20/07/2007 12:45:

Quoted message said:

When freewheeling the freewheel ratchet made a clicking noise (sprung teeth
ratcheting ?) that I've never noticed before on other bikes.

I have Onyx hubs on my Orange P7, and that has a more distinct sound
than Shimano, for instance. It's a sort of "reassuringly
well-engineered" sound, if that makes any sense!! I don't believe Hope
make [censored] hubs, so I would say you have nothing to worry about. It's
when it goes quiet you worry :-)

--
Paul Boyd
http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/

in message <[email hidden]>, rothers

(') said:

Hi All,

I've only every rode bikes equipped with "lesser" freewheels, i.e Shimano
105, Diore, Ultera, however last night I tried out a Orange P7 Pro with
(I think) a Hope freewheel.

When freewheeling the freewheel ratchet made a clicking noise (sprung
teeth ratcheting ?) that I've never noticed before on other bikes.

Is this normal ?

Certainly Campag hubs are notoriously noisy when freewheeling. Don't know
about Hope but it doesn't seem unlikely.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

;; All in all you're just another nick in the ball
-- Think Droid

"Simon Brooke" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Certainly Campag hubs are notoriously noisy when freewheeling. Don't know
about Hope but it doesn't seem unlikely.

Internally they're very similar, so it seems very likely - like any other of
similar design. Still not noisier than our old DT hub though..

cheers,
clive

Simon Brooke said:

in message <[email hidden]>, rothers

(') said:

Hi All,

I've only every rode bikes equipped with "lesser" freewheels, i.e Shimano
105, Diore, Ultera, however last night I tried out a Orange P7 Pro with
(I think) a Hope freewheel.

When freewheeling the freewheel ratchet made a clicking noise (sprung
teeth ratcheting ?) that I've never noticed before on other bikes.

Is this normal ?

Certainly Campag hubs are notoriously noisy when freewheeling.
Don't know about Hope but it doesn't seem unlikely.

Probably they're just trying to copy that classy Campag sound.

rothers said:

Hi All,

I've only every rode bikes equipped with "lesser" freewheels, i.e
Shimano 105, Diore, Ultera, however last night I tried out a Orange
P7 Pro with (I think) a Hope freewheel.

Ultegra "lesser"? Hah, you jest.

--
Mike
Van Tuyl titanium Dura ace 10
Fausto Coppi aluminium Ultegra 10
Raleigh Record sprint mongrel

Dave Larrington said:

In news:[email hidden],
rothers <[email hidden]> tweaked the Babbage-Engine to tell us:

Quoted message said:

Hi All,

I've only every rode bikes equipped with "lesser" freewheels, i.e
Shimano 105, Diore, Ultera, however last night I tried out a Orange
P7 Pro with (I think) a Hope freewheel.

When freewheeling the freewheel ratchet made a clicking noise (sprung
teeth ratcheting ?) that I've never noticed before on other bikes.

Is this normal ?

Yes. Hope freehubs do that, even when brand new. Or at least mine do.

So why ?

Is it because higher end freewheels are fitted stronger more positive ratchet
springs to give a quicker re-engegement on resumption of pedalling ?

Cheers

Neil

Simon Brooke said:

Certainly Campag hubs are notoriously noisy when freewheeling. Don't know
about Hope but it doesn't seem unlikely.

You want noisy, get a Chris King hub. Chased everywhere by a swarm of
angry bees.

Tony

rothers said:

Dave Larrington said:

In news:[email hidden],
rothers <[email hidden]> tweaked the Babbage-Engine to tell us:

Quoted message said:

Hi All,

I've only every rode bikes equipped with "lesser" freewheels, i.e
Shimano 105, Diore, Ultera, however last night I tried out a Orange
P7 Pro with (I think) a Hope freewheel.

When freewheeling the freewheel ratchet made a clicking noise (sprung
teeth ratcheting ?) that I've never noticed before on other bikes.

Is this normal ?

Yes. Hope freehubs do that, even when brand new. Or at least mine do.

So why ?

Is it because higher end freewheels are fitted stronger more positive ratchet
springs to give a quicker re-engegement on resumption of pedalling ?

Chris King's marketing does make some claim about the lightning speed at
which their freehubs re-engage, although they don't specifically
associate that with the clicking.

Equally likely is that freehubs just naturally click like mad and the
Shimano engineers put a lot of time into making theirs quiet, failing to
notice in their pursuit of perfection that people actually like the
clicking.

in message <[email hidden]>, rothers

(') said:

Dave Larrington said:

In news:[email hidden],
rothers <[email hidden]> tweaked the Babbage-Engine to tell us:

Quoted message said:

Hi All,

I've only every rode bikes equipped with "lesser" freewheels, i.e
Shimano 105, Diore, Ultera, however last night I tried out a Orange
P7 Pro with (I think) a Hope freewheel.

When freewheeling the freewheel ratchet made a clicking noise (sprung
teeth ratcheting ?) that I've never noticed before on other bikes.

Is this normal ?

Yes. Hope freehubs do that, even when brand new. Or at least mine do.

So why ?

Is it because higher end freewheels are fitted stronger more positive
ratchet springs to give a quicker re-engegement on resumption of
pedalling ?

I think it's actually the other way: that Shimano have put a lot of work
into making their hubs quiet. Campagnolo's attitude to ratchets resembles
Buggati's attitude to brakes - 'I build them to go, not to stop'. A
Campagnolo hub is designed to be light, efficient, trouble free and
durable. It isn't designed to be quiet.

This seems a very reasonable attitude to me. As Tony says, other high
quality hubs are also famously noisy. If you don't like the noise, keep
the power on!

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

;; Women are from Venus. Men are from Mars. Lusers are from Uranus.

Ben C said:

Equally likely is that freehubs just naturally click like mad and the
Shimano engineers put a lot of time into making theirs quiet, failing to
notice in their pursuit of perfection that

IMHO SOME

Quoted message said:

people actually like the
clicking.

Personally, I don't, and really appreciate a peaceful downhill with
just the wind (but preferably not the bees) in my hair 🙂

in message <[email hidden]>, squeaker

(') said:

Ben C said:

Equally likely is that freehubs just naturally click like mad and the
Shimano engineers put a lot of time into making theirs quiet, failing to
notice in their pursuit of perfection that

IMHO SOME

Quoted message said:

people actually like the
clicking.

Personally, I don't, and really appreciate a peaceful downhill with
just the wind (but preferably not the bees) in my hair 🙂

Buy Shimano, then.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

Do not sail on uphill water.
- Bill Lee

"rothers" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi All,

I've only every rode bikes equipped with "lesser" freewheels, i.e Shimano
105,
Diore, Ultera, however last night I tried out a Orange P7 Pro with (I
think) a
Hope freewheel.

When freewheeling the freewheel ratchet made a clicking noise (sprung
teeth
ratcheting ?) that I've never noticed before on other bikes.

Is this normal ?

Cheers

Neil

I didn't like the clicking so I took it apart and lubricated it - near
silent now.

Geoff Pearson said:

"rothers" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi All,

I've only every rode bikes equipped with "lesser" freewheels, i.e Shimano
105,
Diore, Ultera, however last night I tried out a Orange P7 Pro with (I
think) a
Hope freewheel.

When freewheeling the freewheel ratchet made a clicking noise (sprung
teeth
ratcheting ?) that I've never noticed before on other bikes.

Is this normal ?

Cheers

Neil

I didn't like the clicking so I took it apart and lubricated it - near
silent now.

I thought I heard somewhere you weren't supposed to put grease on the
pawls. Don't know why not, but perhaps too much gunge in there can cause
them to get stuck in the disengaged position.

"Ben C" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Geoff Pearson said:

"rothers" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi All,

I've only every rode bikes equipped with "lesser" freewheels, i.e
Shimano
105,
Diore, Ultera, however last night I tried out a Orange P7 Pro with (I
think) a
Hope freewheel.

When freewheeling the freewheel ratchet made a clicking noise (sprung
teeth
ratcheting ?) that I've never noticed before on other bikes.

Is this normal ?

Cheers

Neil

I didn't like the clicking so I took it apart and lubricated it - near
silent now.

I thought I heard somewhere you weren't supposed to put grease on the
pawls. Don't know why not, but perhaps too much gunge in there can cause
them to get stuck in the disengaged position.

Aye - but there is a difference between running dry - as mine were - and
delicately lubricated, as they are now.

Hope freewheels have a distinguished click - its like their trademark -
their quality sets them apart !

--
Steve
"Geoff Pearson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Ben C" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Geoff Pearson said:

"rothers" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
> Hi All,
>
> I've only every rode bikes equipped with "lesser" freewheels, i.e
> Shimano
> 105,
> Diore, Ultera, however last night I tried out a Orange P7 Pro with (I
> think) a
> Hope freewheel.
>
> When freewheeling the freewheel ratchet made a clicking noise (sprung
> teeth
> ratcheting ?) that I've never noticed before on other bikes.
>
> Is this normal ?
>
> Cheers
>
> Neil
>

I didn't like the clicking so I took it apart and lubricated it - near
silent now.

I thought I heard somewhere you weren't supposed to put grease on the
pawls. Don't know why not, but perhaps too much gunge in there can cause
them to get stuck in the disengaged position.

Aye - but there is a difference between running dry - as mine were - and
delicately lubricated, as they are now.

Ben C said the following on 20/07/2007 22:13:

Quoted message said:

Chris King's marketing does make some claim about the lightning speed at
which their freehubs re-engage, although they don't specifically
associate that with the clicking.

Chris King freehubs don't have pawls - they have two toothed plates,
one of which moves in on a spiral to engage with the other when you
pedal, and a spring releases it when you stop pedalling. There's a
lovely photo (for the engineering minded, that is!) in an advert in one
of the MTB mags this month that shows it clearly. Apparently they make
more of a buzzing sound than a clicking sound, but I wouldn't know
because they're way out of my price range :-(

--
Paul Boyd
http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/

"Paul Boyd" <usenet.dont.work@plusnet> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Ben C said the following on 20/07/2007 22:13:

Quoted message said:

Chris King's marketing does make some claim about the lightning speed at
which their freehubs re-engage, although they don't specifically
associate that with the clicking.

Chris King freehubs don't have pawls - they have two toothed plates, one
of which moves in on a spiral to engage with the other when you pedal, and
a spring releases it when you stop pedalling. There's a lovely photo (for
the engineering minded, that is!) in an advert in one of the MTB mags this
month that shows it clearly. Apparently they make more of a buzzing sound
than a clicking sound, but I wouldn't know because they're way out of my
price range :-(

DT Hugi hubs have a similar toothed plate design, though not as clever -
there's no spiral to force the engagement, which means they had problems
under tandem load. Ours was very loud though :-)

cheers,
clive

I find shimano freehubs die fairly frequently. Id rather have the
positive click of a Hope that seems to last forever. Used to do a fair
bit of trials riding and the shimano freehubs would last no more than 6
months.