BlueRaleigh

I recently purchased a Shimano freewheel during a build. I believe the freewheel was junk out of the box as it makes this shhht, shhht, shhht scraping noise as the rear wheel rotates. I decided to replace it with a freewheel from White Ind which works beautifully. I'm wondering if I should just trash the Shimano freewheel. I have no receipt for it, no box for it, so I don't think I can get a warranty claim. And I don't feel like driving back down to the bike shop and troubling them with it since they did such a good job on every other part of the build.

So is it junk or is it something I can salvage somehow? Thanks.

HandsomeRyan

you said it makes a noise, does it work though? Does it engage in one direction and freewheel in the other? If it does- parts-box it for trade later or craigslist it for cash now.

BlueRaleigh

It engages. It just has that annoying noise, like there's something wrong with the bearings. I don't think I could sell it in good conscience.

striknein

This is more than the normal "tick tick tick" you would expect to hear when freewheeling, right? Does it sound like a grinding or rubbing?

BlueRaleigh

Yeah, it's not the ratcheting noise. It's a sandpaperish sounding noise that occurs once per rotation.

Focuspokus

Can you hear it at speed or only when you spin wheel with hand slowly?? My new Shimano freewheel makes a slight sound like you describe but only at slow revolutions as it winds down to a stop and while I am in house. Cannot hear it on road or at speed. Keep it if that is what you hear. Toss it if you can hear it while hauling down the road. I doubt that latter is the case though.

NikZak

i'd check your chainline, sometimes if it isn't exactly straight you get that sound

AngelGendy

Send it to me and I'll disPose of it properly!

BlueRaleigh

I can't remember if it's audible at speed. It was audible with the bike upside down as I spun the wheel with the cranks. In any case, it's no longer on the bike so I can't really test it. From what I've been reading, these freewheels aren't meant to be serviced so I guess it is what it is. No biggie, though. I'm happy with my White Ind freewheel.

Focuspokus

Well, if you were spinning cranks moderate to fast and you heard it, junk it. I was contemplating the White Freewheel as well, but I will run the Shimano until it gets noisy but it is quiet and smooth so far unlike the Chinese POS that came on my Madison.

BlueRaleigh

I had a 17T Shimano on my old fixie and it was smooth and perfect. It definitely didn't make the noise this 18T did.

Leukybear 

Did you buy it used?

BlueRaleigh

Nah. It was one of many new parts in a build.

mihlbach

take it apart and relube it.