tominos

Hi guys,

So i got this Schwinn world tourist off of craigslist for 85 bucks. seemed to be in great shape. no rust. it's got the shimano ff freewheel system where the chain keeps spinning even if i'm not pedaling, allowing you to change gears without pedaling. i cleaned it up a little bit, changed out the moustache bars for drop bars, put some tape on there, got a used seat off cl, and put a rack on there, and some new tires. rides pretty well.

anyway, when i'm coasting, the clicking noise is really loud. i think the bearings need to be repacked in grease. am i thinking about the right thing here? how do i do it? do i have to buy a new bottom bracket or something?

btw, do the drop bars look like they have too much of a drop for how high the seat is?

HillRider

One thing to keep in mind with the ff system. The chain will be moving anytime the rear wheel is turning so lubing the chain or adjusting the shifting can be hazardous to your fingers if you forget. We are used to having the chain stationary when the crank isn't turning and it's easy to forget that isn't the case with this system.

Steve530

Do you think that it might be the front freewheel system clicking?

Omnicycler

Cool bike - I remember a friend having one when I was a teenager. My bias is to recommend you go to your LBS (or Craigslist again) and get a used "normal" freewheel and crank. The freewheel's value as a safety clutch allowing the occasional shoelace, pant cuff, or mechanic's finger to get caught in the chain without too much drama is greatly underestimated. That said, clicking when coasting is almost certainly the ratchet mechanism in the chainwheel/crankset.

Jeff Wills

The brake levers don't match the handlebars. The levers are for upright style bars, not the drop bars that are on the bike. Stock, the bike came with "North Road" style bars and a fat, cushy seat, like this:


Trying to ride that bike with the brake levers in that position looks pretty painful. $85 isn't terrible, but I'd strip off the bars and seat and put either North Road or straight (MTB-style) bars and a wider saddle on it.

tominos

it came with the north road bars and the wider saddle on it, but i wanted a more road bike type feel. is this not good? do i need new brake levers made for drop bars?

"That said, clicking when coasting is almost certainly the ratchet mechanism in the chainwheel/crankset." - how do i fix this?

and what do i have to do to change to the freewheel system?

HillRider

New proper brake levers could be installed higher on the curve of the bars and would reduce the drop to them.

A bit of lube dripped into the freewheeling mechanism may quiet it down a bit but some clicking is normal.

Changing to the more common rear freewheel system would require replacing the current rear gear cluster with a freewheel and a new conventional-type crank and bottom bracket.

AndrewP

Changing the freewheel system will not be worth doing until the current one breaks, but try to get some used brake levers from a bike shop, then you can set them at a position that you can work from eith the top or from the drops.

wrk101

+1 Get new brake levers. I like Aero style levers, which can be had off ebay for about $15.

tominos

so i went to the lbs, and they had a ton of used parts for sale. grabbed myself a set of brake levers for five dollars and got them on there.



Hillrider - how do i drip lube onto the freewheel mechanism?

Thanks for all the help guys. the biking community is awesome.