Bicycle Mechanics - Crank just spins?

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kuwahara
03-10-08, 12:15 PM
Okay I did a search but couldn't find the answer.

My crank is just spinning. If I move it real s-l-o-w then it will lock in and I can pedal again .. but once it freewheels then it no longer grabs again and I'm just spinning around with no power.

What do I tell the bike mechanic so I don't sound like a total noob? :o

demoncyclist
03-10-08, 12:21 PM
Sounds like the pawls in your freehub or freewheel are stuck.
kuwahara
03-10-08, 12:39 PM
Sounds like the pawls in your freehub or freewheel are stuck.

hey thanks a lot...i didn't even think about the hub...did a quick google and found this guide on cleaning it

http://www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=45

:beer:

MudPie
03-10-08, 01:49 PM
hey thanks a lot...i didn't even think about the hub...did a quick google and found this guide on cleaning it

http://www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=45

:beer:

The Park site is a great resource. Most likely, a good flushing and lube will fix the problem.
JanMM
03-10-08, 03:23 PM
Left to it's own devices, a crank should just spin. It's the other stuff that keeps it from spinning.
Joshua A.C. New
03-10-08, 05:05 PM
A pawl could have shattered, too. If flowing stuff through there doesn't degunk it, open it up and look. If you find no pawls but lots of shrapnel, that's what happened.
kuwahara
03-10-08, 09:57 PM
thanks everybody ... i'll take a look after work
operator
03-10-08, 10:14 PM
Freehub can also be replaced in the unlikely event it really is broken.
alicestrong
03-10-08, 11:30 PM
Hey that happened to one of my bikes and all I had to do was lay the bike on it's side and run some oil into the freewheel. I guess that was enough to free up the pawls...
jgedwa
03-11-08, 07:42 AM
Just be careful when you clean out the freehub to try to avoid letting the oil/wd-40/whatever getting into the hub. Grease does not like that stuff at all. It can be done on the wheel with care, but seems like it is much smarter to pull it so you can clean aggresively.

jim