Bicycle Mechanics - Free Spirit FS

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View Full Version : Free Spirit FS


Cooner750
06-07-06, 05:22 PM
Bike is a Free Spirit FS3, 3-Speed internally geared. Not sure of the year as it does not have a Sturmey-Archer hub.

Lately I noticed that when pedaling it feels as though the left crank is hitting the kickstand but it certainly isn't, I tied the kickstand up to the frame to be sure. It only does it when pedaling slow, or I can't feel it when pedaling faster. It's hard to describe, it feels like it's 'slipping' and it seems to be felt more in the left pedal.

Any ideas?

Kind of new to the bicycle world here; I've got a Giant Boulder mountain bike, two Huffy Camaros (1968), one 'mens' colored green, one 'womens' colored purple and white, a red Free Spirit FS3, an old blue Huffy, unsure of year, and an old blue Schwinn, also year unknown.


Cooner750
06-07-06, 10:07 PM
Found the problem. The other day when I come around the street corner too quick and smacked the pedal on the curb it knocked the crank arm loose. The small bolt that holds the arm onto the shaft is loose. You can hold the right pedal steady and push the left one up and down.

Landgolier
06-08-06, 12:54 PM
I've worked on a few of these, but don't remember what the crank setup is. Is it a cottered crank?