Pedals Move When Bike Moves. Is this supposed to happen?
#1
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Pedals Move When Bike Moves. Is this supposed to happen?
Maybe this is a dumb question. When I'm walking alongside my GT Saddleback the pedals cycle around when the back tire is moving. Aren't the pedals supposed to stay stationary when the bike moves?
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LOL, no it's not a single speed bike. I just find it odd that the pedals move when the back tire does, yet I can still coast, however the chain makes a clanking/clicking sound when coasting. I'm trying to understand the mechanics of what's wrong so that I can fix it.
#4
Extra Medium Member
Most likely either the cassette body or freewheel (I don't know which you have) is sticking. You can still coast because you have enough pressure on the pedals to move the pawls inside the freewheel/cassette body. Some information to give us would be what type of bike and what component level is on it. If that's the case it usually involves a good cleaning and re-lube.
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It's a freewheel. So you're saying it's probably gunk buildup on the splines, and should be cleaned? I'll give that a shot redtires. Thanks!
#6
Pwnerer
Lubricating Freewheels
Freewheels should be oiled from time to time with a medium-weight oil. This is easy to do, and generally requires no disassembly.
The bike should be held with the rear wheel off the ground, and leaning to the left at about a 45 degree angle. An assistant may be helpful for this. Turn the pedals around a couple of times to get the wheel spinning fast, then let it coast (helps to be in high gear for this.)
Look inside the smallest sprocket. The sprocket will be stationary, since the wheel is coasting, but you'll see an inner part of the freewheel that is spinning with the wheel. Drip oil onto the crack between the turning part and the stationary part. Gravity and capillary action will help work oil into the freewheel.
Repeat this a few times, until you hear a change in the sound of the clicking pawls (they'll generally get quieter when the oil reaches them.)
This should be done every year or so, or any time that coasting sounds loud and gritty.
Freewheels should be oiled from time to time with a medium-weight oil. This is easy to do, and generally requires no disassembly.
The bike should be held with the rear wheel off the ground, and leaning to the left at about a 45 degree angle. An assistant may be helpful for this. Turn the pedals around a couple of times to get the wheel spinning fast, then let it coast (helps to be in high gear for this.)
Look inside the smallest sprocket. The sprocket will be stationary, since the wheel is coasting, but you'll see an inner part of the freewheel that is spinning with the wheel. Drip oil onto the crack between the turning part and the stationary part. Gravity and capillary action will help work oil into the freewheel.
Repeat this a few times, until you hear a change in the sound of the clicking pawls (they'll generally get quieter when the oil reaches them.)
This should be done every year or so, or any time that coasting sounds loud and gritty.
#7
Extra Medium Member
Well if by splines you mean the individual cogs on the freewheel..then no. What's getting caught up is the internals of the freewheel. You have the threaded part that screws onto the hub, then you have the outside of the freewheel body which holds the cogs. Inside are some catch pawls, springs, ball bearings, etc... The gunk is most likely inside there. Since you most likely do not want to take all the cogs off, and then take apart the body the second best thing is to soak it in a little parts cleaner...something organic that will leave little to no residue. Keep working it until it frees and spins smoothly. Then either blow it dry with some compressed air, or air dry then seep a light oil (Phil's lube is good for this) not too much though. You will need a tool to take the freewheel off though. I certainly don't want to make any assumptions about your wrenching ability...I can't tell from your post...but if you don't have the tools, a good shop will be able to do it for you.
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It might not be gunk. Some freewheels are just like that: my shimano hubs don't do it but my mavic one's do - from the day i got them. I just assumed it was different pawl design.