Bicycle Mechanics - Freewheel stopped clicking.

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Dyerseve726
08-02-10, 11:01 PM
This is a very random question, but as I was gliding along today, I was struck by the fact that there was pure silence, where once there was the normal freewheel click. I'm quite positive that it USED to click and not really sure when it stopped. I can get something resembling a clicking if I pedal backwards quickly, but it seems to just be chain noise.

I have an oldschool, screw on freewheel, so replacement wouldn't really be a big problem, just curious if this is a malfunction that is worth worrying over?

BCRider
08-03-10, 12:09 AM
Likely the grunge that eventually finds its way in has thickened up the oil inside so that it's more like a grease. That cushions the pawl when it clicks onto the next tooth and often you can't hear it well at all when that happens.

If you have the tools you can remove the whole freewheel and dunk it into a solvent bath and work it while submersed. Lift it out to drain and resubmerse a few times to flush out all the old oil and grunge that has gotten into it. Then squirt in some good oil or even submerge it in some car oil and leave for a while so it fills all the way. Remove and let drain for a few hours and now it'll be as good as new.