Bicycle Mechanics - Is there a way to lessen the sound of the cassette?

I have a relatively old back wheel and it makes a really loud click when you dont pedal or when you're pedalling backward. Is there some way I can lessen the sound or get rid of it completely?

Thanks

Thats your freehub/freewheel (depending on what you have) at work. Its normal, and the only way I know of to lessen the sound is if the hub is in bad shape, have it rebuilt/replaced, or if its in good shape but just a loud hub (you are definately not a candidate for Chris King hubs) get a new wheel or have the wheel rebuilt around a new hub thats quieter.

Rebuild the hub or at the very least - get it lubed. Those are your least expensive options.

Recently, my Shimano compatible rear hub starting grinding due to dirt getting inside. The wheel is fairly new and I didn't feel it needed rebuilding, so I flushed it with Tri-Flow and the grind went away. But the pawls were much louder than before as the Tri-Flow also flushed the internal "grease". Well, the tool I needed to re-grease the hub - a Morningstar Buddy - was $30 and I didn't want to buy it. I took it to the LBS and had them do it for $5 - everything was quiet and back to normal.

55/Rad

There are ways to get heavy oil into freehubs and freewheels. I know that the book "Zinn and the Art of Road Bike Maintenance" has a section on doing this with newer freehubs (I think he recommends outboard motor gear oil).

Google a bit and let us know what you find.

Clicking is inherent to the design of the hub. I buy the quietest hubs I can find. They coast better.

Dis-assemble the hub. While its apart peek inside near the bearing race. Turn the freehub. See the seam where the freehub moves but the race stays still? Drip some chain lube down there. Lean the wheel at an angle and let it drip out the back. When the drainage looks like what going in your ready to go. I weave a paper towel between the spokes in the back to absord the draining lube.

There are 2 styles of rear hub, the Shimano style Freehub, and the old screw-on freewheel. They have different design and different solution.
If you can see a lock-ring on your cluster of cogs, you have a freehub.
Freewheels can be maintained by unscrewing them from the wheel (using a freewheel tool and a vice), then flushing the crud out from the large-cog side using WD-40, then drizzeling oil back in to the small gap between rotating parts. I do this once a year.

Don't stop pedaling! (someone had to say it :p)


Seriously, if your rear hub is "relatively old" and has no sentimental value, you'd be better off replacing it with a new Shimano hub.

There are 2 styles of rear hub, the Shimano style Freehub, and the old screw-on freewheel. They have different design and different solution.
If you can see a lock-ring on your cluster of cogs, you have a freehub.
Freewheels can be maintained by unscrewing them from the wheel (using a freewheel tool and a vice), then flushing the crud out from the large-cog side using WD-40, then drizzeling oil back in to the small gap between rotating parts. I do this once a year.

Or, you can skip the first 2 steps and just pour oil (medium weight) in it and hope for the best.

I have a relatively old back wheel and it makes a really loud click when you dont pedal or when you're pedalling backward. Is there some way I can lessen the sound or get rid of it completely?

Thanks
What I did to an old Suntour frewheel that had use as "transportion" During a New York State winter was
1) flush with 3in1 (uses kerosene as carrier)
2) flush with 3in1
3) lube with a fine oil - I used good gun oil