Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Bicycle Mechanics
Reload this Page >

Mysterious Slowing Wheel

Notices
Bicycle Mechanics Broken bottom bracket? Tacoed wheel? If you're having problems with your bicycle, or just need help fixing a flat, drop in here for the latest on bicycle mechanics & bicycle maintenance.

Mysterious Slowing Wheel

Old 07-24-05, 02:25 AM
  #1  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Lord Chambers's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 127
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Mysterious Slowing Wheel

While reinstalling my back wheel I noticed that it wasn't spinning completely freely as a wheel should. I thought it was the brakes that I had just reset since the sound of the rubbing was near there, but even after letting them loose again the friction continues. I don't know where it's coming from. It seems like there is an audible rubbing whenever a certain spot on the wheel rotates past, but there's nothing touching it at all!

I cleaned my drive train recently just by flossing with some rags and degreaser. I only mention that because after staring at the spinning wheel with a confused look on my face for 10 minutes I figure it's got to be some sort of internal resistance that's slowing it down.

Anyway, what should I do? It's not enough resistance that I even notice while riding, but something certainly seems up since the front one spins so freely. Maybe back wheels are always like this and I just never noticed?
Lord Chambers is offline  
Old 07-24-05, 06:58 AM
  #2  
Bike Junkie
 
aadhils's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Santa Clara, CA
Posts: 1,620

Bikes: 2013 Orange Brompton M3L; 2006 Milwaukee Bicycle Co. Fixie (Eddy Orange); 2022 Surly Cross Check, Black

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 26 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times in 1 Post
Take it to an LBS and have it retrued. Or you can do it yourself if you know how. Check the chainstay to see if the tires rubbing on that, or the wheel could be out of round.
aadhils is offline  
Old 07-24-05, 07:18 AM
  #3  
Senior Member
 
juicemouse's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Happy Valley
Posts: 813
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Take the wheel out of the frame and see if it does the same thing off the bike. If so, it's definitely a bearing issue. If not, it could just be excessive clamping force from the quick release.
__________________
It is my belief that every person in this world has something to teach, and everything to learn.

In memory of Jim Price (aka. sydney) ...
juicemouse is offline  
Old 07-24-05, 09:06 AM
  #4  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 233
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
ive a few ideas but not too sure if it will help. none the less, it might be the degreaser, if it got in the bearings it will ruin the grease and u will get lots of friction which is bad. it also may be the pressure on the spinning system due to excess pressure on the quick release. they arent meant to be that tight , just so u know. or the third option is uve a minor buckle and the tire is rubbing of one of the chain stays up by the front derailleur area. check these out. take the wheel off and spin it see if there is any friction, if there is its the bearings that are the issue. best of luck
toomyus is offline  
Old 07-24-05, 09:07 AM
  #5  
2-Cyl, 1/2 HP @ 90 RPM
 
slvoid's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: NYC
Posts: 15,762

Bikes: 04' Specialized Hardrock Sport, 03' Giant OCR2 (SOLD!), 04' Litespeed Firenze, 04' Giant OCR Touring, 07' Specialized Langster Comp

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times in 4 Posts
Its called..... FRICTION...

Oh right, you knew that already.. get it checked out by the LBS. Probably the hub gone bad. Have em take it apart, clean it, and reassemble it.
slvoid is offline  
Old 07-24-05, 09:02 PM
  #6  
jur
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Albany, WA
Posts: 7,393
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 321 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times in 6 Posts
Does the rubbing sound disappear when turning the cranks? If so, it could be the biggest cog is rubbing against the plastic dork disk which could be busted or dislodged.
jur is offline  
Old 07-25-05, 08:47 AM
  #7  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,442
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
I second the vote for checking the chainguard disc. I've had numbers of those silly things come loose or get tweaked, and they do cause that annoying rubbing sound.

If it's bad, you can either pull the cassette or just break it out with some needle-nose pliers.
Bikewer is offline  
Old 07-25-05, 09:43 AM
  #8  
JRA...
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: philly
Posts: 839

Bikes: trek 520 & 736, DeRosa Professional, Fuji Professional, Raleigh International 3-speed, Saronni (any info people?), Humber 3-speed, Raleigh Sports, Carlton Grand Prix coming soon!

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
if you have a rubber seal and were messing with hub adjustment, check to see if the seal is seated properly.
dafydd is offline  
Old 08-01-05, 02:43 PM
  #9  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Lord Chambers's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 127
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I made a video so we could all be on the same page. I've looked all over and can't find any source of friction, other than the possibility of internal friction, which I wouldn't understand since I never messed with the hub or anything like that. I can't tell if I've just spent too much time tuning it recently and am being paranoid or if this really is something I can fix. Is there something wrong, or are rear wheels just impeded a bit from the cassette and clickity clicks?

Mysterious Slowing Wheel.

Is this wrong too? Again, I don't know if it's just because I'm paying too much attention to every detail or if this really is as wrong as it looks:

The latch isn't over tight. In fact I loosened it up and that had no effect on this apparent axel bend.
Lord Chambers is offline  
Old 08-01-05, 03:05 PM
  #10  
Unique Vintage Steel
 
cuda2k's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Allen, TX
Posts: 11,590

Bikes: Kirk Frameworks JKS-C, Serotta Nova, Gazelle AB-Frame, Fuji Team Issue, Surly Straggler

Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 57 Post(s)
Liked 225 Times in 56 Posts
Can't tell if it's an optical issue with the picture, but you're right, that thing does look bent to me.
cuda2k is offline  
Old 08-01-05, 03:07 PM
  #11  
cab horn
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Toronto
Posts: 28,353

Bikes: 1987 Bianchi Campione

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 42 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 25 Times in 18 Posts
Looks like the wheel is screwed.
operator is offline  
Old 08-01-05, 03:18 PM
  #12  
Senior Member
 
juicemouse's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Happy Valley
Posts: 813
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Lord Chambers
I made a video so we could all be on the same page. I've looked all over and can't find any source of friction, other than the possibility of internal friction, which I wouldn't understand since I never messed with the hub or anything like that. I can't tell if I've just spent too much time tuning it recently and am being paranoid or if this really is something I can fix. Is there something wrong, or are rear wheels just impeded a bit from the cassette and clickity clicks?

Mysterious Slowing Wheel.

Is this wrong too? Again, I don't know if it's just because I'm paying too much attention to every detail or if this really is as wrong as it looks:

The latch isn't over tight. In fact I loosened it up and that had no effect on this apparent axel bend.
You really need to take this wheel out of the frame to get at what's going on here. WRT the apparently bent axle, remove the quick release entirely and see if that's really what's bent.

Your video, in and of itself, doesn't look unusual at all. Rear hubs always have more friction than front hubs because of their freewheel ratcheting mechanisms (or "clickity clicks", as you put it).
__________________
It is my belief that every person in this world has something to teach, and everything to learn.

In memory of Jim Price (aka. sydney) ...
juicemouse is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.