Originally Posted by
FBinNY
It neither helps nor hurts shifting and is perfectly normal. It's the result of not perfectly alignment between the threads on hub and freewheel inner body, and the freewheel bearings causing the stationary outer body to oscillate slightly as the hub spins.
BTW- the same freewheel may run perfectly true on one hub and wobble on another. When we used to set up competition race bikes we used to switch things around trial and wrror until we found the least wobbly combinations.
Actually most of the time...it's not the freewheel...it's the hub.
Occurs with most generics and even entry level Campy and Shimano freewheel style hubs...
It's caused by imperfect machining of the inner cup race seats in one of the following three ways:
1. Left side machined one way off center - right side machined off the opposite way. Result is that the hub wobbles making it appear the freewheel is wobbling.
2. Left side machined one way off center - right side machined off the same way. Result is that the hub will rise and fall with each rotation of the wheel. Freewheel appears to do the same.
3. One side is machined on center - the other side is machined off center. Result is that one side of the hub will rise and fall. If it's the drive side as is usually the case - freewheel will appear to wobble.
If the freewheel is truly the source of the wobble - not the hub - and has noticeable play - freewheel is probably on it' last legs or needs an overhaul and adjustment.
=8-)