Bicycle Mechanics - bike chain piling up when coasting

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Puppypaws
08-07-05, 07:40 PM
Tonight when I walked my bike and got back on, the chain was all piled up behind the cranks. I managed to turn the cranks a few turns and it worked again. Then when I coasted....same thing...seemed like the rear derailer kept feeding chain forward when it shouldn't have.

I had noticed before that when I was walking the bike in/out of the garage, the cranks were turning....I thought that was odd, because my husband's trek doesnt do that.

Maybe i should've bought a trek. :(

MudPie
08-07-05, 09:13 PM
It sounds like your freehub or freewheel is sticking. The freehub is a ratcheting mechanism that essetially disengages the chain from the rear wheel when you coast (you can hear the clicking noise when you're not pedalling). In other words, the freehub allows you to coast without advancing the chain. When you pedal, the ratchet engages and allows the chain to power the rear wheel.

You'll probably be able to break the freehub free by turning the rear cogs counterclockwise with your hands. Becareful of the teeth on the cogs.

If you want to know more, see: http://www.parktool.com/repair_help/howfix_freehub.shtml