Maillard Freewheel refurbishing
5 min read
Asked by: Kevin Cota
When should I replace my freewheel?
If you ride around on a single speed bike or a BMX, then once every one to two years you need to replace the freewheel cog.
Replacing Single Speed Freewheel or BMX Freewheel
- BMX Freewheel remover – one that will fit your freewheel cog. …
- Spanner – this will fit on to the freewheel remover.
How do you fix a freewheel?
Quote from video: Now ultimately what I would do is clean and lubricate the inside of the freewheel. And you might be possible do that on the wheel here. But I actually prefer to just take the freewheel off the wheel.
How do you service a single speed freewheel?
Quote from video: It's easiest to start out leaving the freewheel on the wheel there's this ring around here this is actually cone. And this can be on there very tight. So you want to kind of get this loosened.
Can I replace a 5 speed freewheel with 6 speed?
5-Speed to 6- or 7-Speed
Hubs originally intended for 5-speed freewheels can be converted to use 6- or 7-speed freewheels. You will generally need to add a few spacer washers to the right side of the axle, building it up far enought that the cone locknut can reach the frame dropout through the wider freewheel body.
Are all freewheels interchangeable?
No, freewheels are completely different from the cassette / free hub system and are not interchangeable. A freewheel includes the ratchet mechanism that allows the sprockets to rotate backwards as well as the sprockets themselves, and threads into the hub.
Are all freewheels the same size?
Freewheel Threading
The standard ISO threading for freewheels is 1.375 x 24 TPI, the same as for standard ISO bottom brackets. All recent freewheels and threaded hubs, regardless of where made, use ISO threading.
Can you disassemble a freewheel?
Disassembly. Leave the freewheel in place on the wheel, or screw it onto a wheel, so that you will have something to hold it with. Breaking the freewheel loose from the wheel now with a freewheel remover reduces the likelihood of damage to the inner body if you have to remove it for reassembly.
How do you stop ghost pedaling?
My hub was ghost pedalling because its was too dry. Just put some grease in the hub/driver. Wake up, ride, have fun, repeat.
Are freewheels sealed?
The freewheel utilizes a sealed cartridge bearing instead of a loose ball system.
How many bearings are in a single speed freewheel?
Carefully place each of the 48 clean bearings onto the race, using the grease to hold the bearings in place.
How many ball bearings does a freewheel have?
Typically you’ll have 10 bearings per side in the front and nine bearings per side in the back. Those are *common* sizes and counts, but you really won’t know for sure until you tear into the hub.
How do you service a freewheel hub?
Clean area above cap as well.
- Blow dry with compressed air. Use normal precautions when using compressed air. …
- Use a liquid lubricant in the back side and front. Spin freehub to work lube inside.
- Grease freehub mounting-bolt.
- Install freehub and any spacer onto hub body. …
- Assemble and adjust hub as with hub overhaul.
Is ratchet better than Pawls?
Pawl vs ratchet
In theory, the larger number of ring-based contacts in a ratchet should be more reliable and transmit force better, although in practice pawl-based systems are well enough engineered that this is unlikely to be an issue if they’re maintained regularly.
Are cassettes better than freewheels?
Due to the lower number of gears, a freewheel system is usually better for the more casual rider. The freewheel system is generally better for cruising, so if you do not need the higher number of gears to be found in a cassette system then it is well worth considering.
Why are some Freehubs loud?
Loudness in the freehub/freebody is usually due to the very light oil used to lubricate the inner parts. Thicker oil can be used to lessen the noise and even grease in some cases, but it’s high viscosity is pointed at for not being so efficient.
Why is my freewheel slipping?
Freewheel skipping is a very common occurrence when the temperature drops below -25c. Just bring it inside for a few minutes and you will be able to catch a cog on the freewheel or whatever it needs to catch inside. Once pedaling never let up on the pressure of each stroke.
Why is my bike not moving when I pedal?
Quote from video: They just kind of stay stuck down and so when you pedal forward they just slip over the teeth. And the wheel doesn't turn. So in that case what you want to do is flush out the old grease.
Why does my rear wheel not spin freely?
It might be that the hub is seized up from rust. You can check if it is the brake or not by loosening the caliper and spinning the wheel. If it spins freely it is the brake not the hub. If it is the hub you might need to get it regreased.
How do you tighten a free hub?
Quote from video: You can do is just finger tight. And then just make sure the axle. Rotates nice and smoothly.
Should I grease my freehub?
So a little grease on a steel freehub certainly can’t hurt when it comes to corrosion protection. Bottom line, not a big deal. If you do regular maintenance and pull the cassette now and then in the process, leaving the freehub body dry shouldn’t hurt a thing.
Why are some Freehubs loud?
Loudness in the freehub/freebody is usually due to the very light oil used to lubricate the inner parts. Thicker oil can be used to lessen the noise and even grease in some cases, but it’s high viscosity is pointed at for not being so efficient.