jim p

About 2 weeks ago I had a new 7 speed freewheel put on a wheel that previously had a 6 speed freewheel. Everything fit on the road bike fine and I even trued the wheel up a little. Now on the first ride I notice a little noise from the system. I checked to make sure that the rear derailer is indexing correctly and it needs adjusting a little. The noise is still there on the next ride. I checked the chain and it has a little wear so I replace the chain. The noise is still there on the next ride. I took a close look at the freewheel and it is made with some of the teeth about 1/2 the normal heigth and it looks like it has some little ramps machined into the cogs of the freewheel. I am guessing that all these little cuts and lumps and bumps are supposed to make the shift more consistant while under load.

Are all these modifications causing my noises while I am pedaling? Today I put the bike on a stand and then applied the brake a little while pedaling the bike with one hand and these noises were occuring about 5 time per pedal revolution.

mcoomer

I would check your freewheel to make sure that it's clean and lubed and then set the bearings. There is going to be some noise from the cassette as the chain passes over it but that should have a smooth rythmic sound to it.

Good luck.

HillRider

7-speed freewheels are very slightly wider than 6-speeds. You may have a little interference with the right side dropout.

jim p

Thanks for the replys. I don't know how to set the bearing on a freewheel. This freewheel is new and clean but I did not lube it.

The freewheel has about 1/8" clearance between the drop out. I stuck this wheel on a bike that had a 7 speed free hub on the rear.

These noises sound more like a cross chaining noise. I don't get this noise in the first 2 cogs but it starts up big time in the 4th and 5th cog. If I shift to the big chain ring the noise does not go away so I can't be sure that it is just cross chaining noise. All of my old freewheels and cassets are just standard teeth all the way around with no fancy ramps and such so I don't have anything to compare with the new freewheel.

I am thinking that all is well with the bike but I just don't have enough experience to be sure.

jim p

Update. I kept riding the wheel with all the little noises until about a week ago. I broke a spoke and had to go to another wheel. The current wheel just has a plain 7 speed cassett and all the chain noise is gone. So my conclusion is that some freewheels with special teeth designs may be noisy.

I put another spoke in the old wheel and now have it and the freewheel mounted on another bike with friction shifting. I will have to take it out for a spin and see how it sounds. It will also be interesting to see how my wheel truing holds up.

jim p

Well I got to do a ride test and the spokes maked a couple of pings as I started and the freewheel screwed itself onto to the wheel another 1/8 turn. The noise was still there even thought the wheel was on a different bike. The wheel stayed true for the ride so I will be able to us it as a back up whenever needed.

operator

Pinging means your spokes are unwinding because you didn't take it during the truing process - it's probably out of true now. Freewheel screwing on is normal. Can't put a freewheel on better than just putting it on a bike and riding it.