Kids' coaster brake wheels making creepy creaking sounds
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Kids' coaster brake wheels making creepy creaking sounds
I work on a lot of kids' bikes, overhauling the coaster hubs, and sometimes there are funky creaking noises that come when the wheel is spinning. Often the creaking is more audible when the wheel spins in one direction than the other.
Obviously I clean and relubricate all the bearing surfaces.
From what I can gather from searches, a lot of the time, it has to do with the spring inside the clutch; if that isn't properly lubricated, I guess it can squeak when the wheel spins. I've also had situations where the spring didn't appear to be seated evenly (as in flat against the washer), and screwing around with the spring seating appeared to quiet things.
But I've got another coaster hub with a really annoying creak when the wheel spins. I suspect the noise is coming from inside the clutch; I noticed that the washer doesn't really sit totally flat inside of it, and if I put the spring inside and turn by hand, I can hear a faint noise that sounds a lot like the wheel creak. Also in an attempt to diagnose, I partially reassembled the wheel, with no brake shoes or adjustable cone inside the driver screw, and held the wheel with the left side of the axle down and right axle side pointing into the air - spinning it creates the same creak. So with those parts missing, I don't think it's anything to do with the bearing surfaces or the way the brake shoes are rubbing anything.
I'm not sure how to silence this one - I've tried regreasing the crap out of the spring, inside the clutch and washer, outside of the clutch, in the hub, everything. I also played around with the seating of the spring, but it seems to be in as deep and flat as I can get it. Any ideas?
One random other note, I noticed the left side axle locknut was super loose on this bike. I just held onto the coaster brake "reaction arm" with one hand and tightened the locknut back down. Don't think it has any bearing on the creak, but wanted to note it.
Obviously I clean and relubricate all the bearing surfaces.
From what I can gather from searches, a lot of the time, it has to do with the spring inside the clutch; if that isn't properly lubricated, I guess it can squeak when the wheel spins. I've also had situations where the spring didn't appear to be seated evenly (as in flat against the washer), and screwing around with the spring seating appeared to quiet things.
But I've got another coaster hub with a really annoying creak when the wheel spins. I suspect the noise is coming from inside the clutch; I noticed that the washer doesn't really sit totally flat inside of it, and if I put the spring inside and turn by hand, I can hear a faint noise that sounds a lot like the wheel creak. Also in an attempt to diagnose, I partially reassembled the wheel, with no brake shoes or adjustable cone inside the driver screw, and held the wheel with the left side of the axle down and right axle side pointing into the air - spinning it creates the same creak. So with those parts missing, I don't think it's anything to do with the bearing surfaces or the way the brake shoes are rubbing anything.
I'm not sure how to silence this one - I've tried regreasing the crap out of the spring, inside the clutch and washer, outside of the clutch, in the hub, everything. I also played around with the seating of the spring, but it seems to be in as deep and flat as I can get it. Any ideas?
One random other note, I noticed the left side axle locknut was super loose on this bike. I just held onto the coaster brake "reaction arm" with one hand and tightened the locknut back down. Don't think it has any bearing on the creak, but wanted to note it.
#2
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If the washer is bent in anyway it need to be flatten or replace . Yes put a lot of grease on the spring and the washer and inside the clutch and the hub ,turn the spring until it seated right . you might need to replace the spring . Have your LBS order you one or take a junk hub from them for parts .
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Thanks. Any tips on flattening? Can I just put it on a table and smack it with a hammer, or sandwich it between 2 flat pieces of wood and clamp it in a vise?
I'll try swapping springs/clutches between the broken bike and a working one to try to further nail the problem down.
I'll try swapping springs/clutches between the broken bike and a working one to try to further nail the problem down.
#4
Senior Member
YW , I find using two broads and clamping it in the vise does a nice job . If it doesn't work , you can get a washer of the same size at a hardware store .
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Bump. Dang it, still have a bike with the same problem. When the wheel is costing, a creepy internal creaking sound is audible from the rear hub. Everything was cleaned and relubricated (especially the spring), spring seemed OK and the washer inside clutch was flat.
After the wheel starts coasting, if the pedals are moved a hair forward or back, an immediate change in the sound can be detected. It could get quieter, louder, or silenced.
Question - when the wheel is rotating, does the spring inside the clutch stay stationary, or is it supposed to be rotating inside the clutch some way? Holding the clutch by hand and turning the spring clockwise by hand, thus rotating the spring against the washer, makes a ratchety-sounding creak similar to the creak of the bike wheel turning. Coincidence, or part of the problem?
C'mon, there must be some kids' bike specialists out there!
After the wheel starts coasting, if the pedals are moved a hair forward or back, an immediate change in the sound can be detected. It could get quieter, louder, or silenced.
Question - when the wheel is rotating, does the spring inside the clutch stay stationary, or is it supposed to be rotating inside the clutch some way? Holding the clutch by hand and turning the spring clockwise by hand, thus rotating the spring against the washer, makes a ratchety-sounding creak similar to the creak of the bike wheel turning. Coincidence, or part of the problem?
C'mon, there must be some kids' bike specialists out there!
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Rear coaster hub of a kids' bike.
When you pedal forward and then stop, letting the wheel spin, a whirring/creaking sound from inside the wheel can be heard. Some kids' bikes do this regularly, others are silent or close to it.
Not sure what the difference is in this case. It's not grumbly bearings lack of lubrication, I don't think.
I suspect it has something to do with the clutch, since changing the clutch position (move pedals forward or back a hair) makes the creaking sound different.
When you pedal forward and then stop, letting the wheel spin, a whirring/creaking sound from inside the wheel can be heard. Some kids' bikes do this regularly, others are silent or close to it.
Not sure what the difference is in this case. It's not grumbly bearings lack of lubrication, I don't think.
I suspect it has something to do with the clutch, since changing the clutch position (move pedals forward or back a hair) makes the creaking sound different.
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https://www.niagaracycle.com/categori...pe-clutch-cone If it's a kt...
#11
Senior Member
Sound like you need to replace the spring , you can find one at your LBS in their use parts bin . With time the spring get weak and start making noise like you are hearing .
#12
Bicycle Repairman
Are we talking about a creak, squeak, or buzz?
The old Suntour hubs used to make horrible creaking sounds while pedaling if the ******er spring got dry. I found that a couple squirts of 50W oil cleared that right up.
The cheap Chinese coaster brakes are notorious for buzzing sounds while coasting and it changes pitch when the pedals are rotated slightly in one direction or the other. Most of the time, it's barely noticeable but sometimes you get a real loud one. (Usually when a big 26" alloy rim is spoked on the hub, amplifying the sound) I haven't found a surefire fix for these yet but I'm pretty sure the noise is from grooves that get indented on the inside of the hub shell from the clutch cone. You can try sanding the hub shell with emery cloth as it seems to help a little. I've tried swapping springs, washers, and clutch cones from other hubs with little or no luck at quieting things down.
My experience with the buzzy hubs is they are usually on new or on very low mileage bikes. If you can learn to ignore the noise for a while it may go away on it's own just from use.
The old Suntour hubs used to make horrible creaking sounds while pedaling if the ******er spring got dry. I found that a couple squirts of 50W oil cleared that right up.
The cheap Chinese coaster brakes are notorious for buzzing sounds while coasting and it changes pitch when the pedals are rotated slightly in one direction or the other. Most of the time, it's barely noticeable but sometimes you get a real loud one. (Usually when a big 26" alloy rim is spoked on the hub, amplifying the sound) I haven't found a surefire fix for these yet but I'm pretty sure the noise is from grooves that get indented on the inside of the hub shell from the clutch cone. You can try sanding the hub shell with emery cloth as it seems to help a little. I've tried swapping springs, washers, and clutch cones from other hubs with little or no luck at quieting things down.
My experience with the buzzy hubs is they are usually on new or on very low mileage bikes. If you can learn to ignore the noise for a while it may go away on it's own just from use.
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Sorry I was away for a few days. Thanks for the replies.
I was looking at that link, but the thing that scared me is that it's just the clutch cone and doesn't come with the spring or the cleat retainer. And they don't sell the spring...
I'm not familiar with coaster brake models - is a KT incompatible with the Shimano E-type? That's the only set I found there where you get the whole shebang.
https://www.niagaracycle.com/categori...pe-clutch-cone If it's a kt...
I'm not familiar with coaster brake models - is a KT incompatible with the Shimano E-type? That's the only set I found there where you get the whole shebang.
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I'm sorry; I hadn't noticed the message on that link about, despite being pictured, the spring not being included. Weird. Why not use an accurate picture?
Anyway, the internet lore suggests that you can run Shimano guts in the KT shell. (The oft-repeated story is that KT makes the cb-e110 for Shimano.) I've never tried that, so I cannot comment on its viability, nor could I say for sure if the Shimano clutch would fit the KT guts.
I do know that you could probably find a used donor hub for free, or if you really wanted to bite the bullet and eliminate the guess work, you could buy a new KT hub complete for $15 and swap whatever part (or all of the guts) into your existing wheel. My experience with these hubs tends to be that they're not so nice or well-made to begin with, and are typically abused/neglected by the typical KT rider from day 1....
Anyway, the internet lore suggests that you can run Shimano guts in the KT shell. (The oft-repeated story is that KT makes the cb-e110 for Shimano.) I've never tried that, so I cannot comment on its viability, nor could I say for sure if the Shimano clutch would fit the KT guts.
I do know that you could probably find a used donor hub for free, or if you really wanted to bite the bullet and eliminate the guess work, you could buy a new KT hub complete for $15 and swap whatever part (or all of the guts) into your existing wheel. My experience with these hubs tends to be that they're not so nice or well-made to begin with, and are typically abused/neglected by the typical KT rider from day 1....
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