Author Topic: Freehub not freewheeling continuously  (Read 1719 times)

Freehub not freewheeling continuously
« on: 11 February, 2019, 10:57:23 am »
I was out for a ride yesterday with some friends who were on their tandem.  When they went to freewheel the cassette would appear to try to turn with the wheel pushing the top run of the chain and causing a tangle.  Not all the time but most of the time.  When the tension in the lower run became high enough, if it wasn't too tangled, the derailleur was able to pull everything back into place.  The wheel bearings in the Shimano hub had recently been serviced.  They had to ride constantly pedalling even to almost a standstill.  No easy feat on a tandem.

I thought too much grease around the pawls, yay or nay?

zigzag

  • unfuckwithable
Re: Freehub not freewheeling continuously
« Reply #1 on: 11 February, 2019, 01:51:44 pm »
i suggest that it gets sorted out asap before too much damage has been caused (e.g. mech wrapped and pushed into spokes). most likely it will either be grease in the freehub that got stiff or a freehub seal (if there is one) dragging against the hub shell.

Re: Freehub not freewheeling continuously
« Reply #2 on: 11 February, 2019, 03:01:18 pm »
which may go to show that it is pointless doing things to the hub bearings without also giving some thought to the freehub body bearings. 


there are several things which may cause a freehub to go draggy

1) particles inside. If there is no slack at all in the bearings (normally a good thing) the slightest contamination of the lubricant may cause the freehub not to spin properly.

2) grease drag. If a #2 grease is used and it gets into the freehub body the freewheeling action may go very draggy.

3) lack of lubricant/corrosion. If the hub was serviced because it was going bad inside, and nothing was done to the freehub bearings, they won't have been improved in any way.

4) Badly fitted seals; there is usually a seal or shield that is push-fitted in the freehub body. If this comes loose (not uncommon) or is not a tight fit when refitted (NB the pressed steel variety always need to be re-flared before being refitted, IME) then they can rub and this can cause the freewheeling action to go bad, either directly or because there is debris generated.

5) Poor lubrication. Under certain conditions (eg very sticky lube) the pawls can be dragged round with the moving part of the freehub body and this can cause the freehub to go snatchy. I have even seen brand new hubs that did this. In most cases simply oiling the freehub fixes the problem.


So there are several possible mechanisms but one probable  common underlying cause; it is quite likely that insufficient attention was paid to the freehub body itself.

If there are no signs of trouble it is normally sufficient to add oil to the freehub body, work it to make sure that it isn't full of rust or dried grease (look at the oil coming out as you work it, and listen to the mechanism) and then to use enough SFG so that this will over time penetrate the mechanism without causing excessive drag. The result is usually a nice quiet freehub that doesn't go wrong.  However if the freehub is bad it will need to be overahuled or replaced.

cheers

Re: Freehub not freewheeling continuously
« Reply #3 on: 11 February, 2019, 03:08:46 pm »
use enough SFG

Sorry Brucey, SFG???

Re: Freehub not freewheeling continuously
« Reply #4 on: 11 February, 2019, 05:45:17 pm »
use enough SFG

Sorry Brucey, SFG???

Semi Fluid Grease.   a lubricant that has about the same consistency as tomato ketchup will work OK in a freehub (in fact it will work in the whole rear hub provided it has some kind of seals fitted).

cheers

Paul

  • L'enfer, c'est les autos.
Re: Freehub not freewheeling continuously
« Reply #5 on: 26 November, 2019, 10:24:26 pm »
I fear I should have looked at this thread 30 minutes before now.

I’m servicing a chorus hub. I’ve left it a little too long (12 years or so) but I’ve been lucky: only one cone to replace.

Then I greased the pawls.
 :facepalm:
Something told me not to use the same grease, but not loudly enough. I now have a massively over-engineered fixed hub.

Oh well. Pass the kitchen towel.

Once they’re clean, can I just lube them with chain oil?
What's so funny about peace, love and understanding?

pdm

  • Sheffield hills? Nah... Just potholes.
Re: Freehub not freewheeling continuously
« Reply #6 on: 26 November, 2019, 10:38:35 pm »
Warning!
Unless you are confident of servicing a freehub back to an "as new" condition, consider replacing it. They are not expensive (£23 for Ultegra quality)
I know of at one punter who serviced his hub because it started displaying what appeared to be minor problems - did a good job (allegedly) and it seemed to work fine afterwards but then failed a few months later at a very awkward time causing a broken collarbone. Not what you want!

Paul

  • L'enfer, c'est les autos.
Re: Freehub not freewheeling continuously
« Reply #7 on: 26 November, 2019, 10:56:12 pm »
Thanks pdm, but I know my way around this job. The freehub is fine (or will be when I’ve lubricated the pawls correctly). The job was actually the hub bearings, specifically the pitted cone resulting (I suspect) from failing to service and adjust the bearings for so long.

New cone: £16 (inc delivery).

Oh well. Could have been the cups. Now they’re a pain to replace.
What's so funny about peace, love and understanding?

Re: Freehub not freewheeling continuously
« Reply #8 on: 06 December, 2019, 11:27:26 am »
I had a freehub do the same after I serviced the hub.
It turned out I'd put the spacers & washers back in a different order and it was binding on the freehub.

HTH