Originally Posted by
wphamilton
The click is very intermittent and only while pedaling, not every turn and roughly the same place (not always). I was a little worried about the frame itself, but good call by [MENTION=48405]AlmostTrick[/MENTION], it went away when I flipped to fixed gear. I'm going to blame it on the freewheel, and if prior experience with cheap freewheels holds it might even go away on it's own. Maybe I should dive into it, possibly find some metal shaving or other manufacturing detritus is interfering with the pawls, but I don't really feel like it.
I had the same clicking issue with my new Motobecane Fixie Cafe this past spring. It really sounds like the crank because the noise resonates through the chain to the pedals. It kinda sort of clicked around the same position most of the time too. I tried tightening all the bolts, removing and greasing all the bolts, swapping pedals, swapping chains, and even removing/greasing and reinstalling the bottom bracket. Still clicking just the same! As soon as I flipped the wheel it went away.
BD knew it was an issue, and said they could send me another of the same cheap freewheels, (no thanks!) or a credit for what the FW cost them. (which was very little)
A new Shimano FW from my LBS was quieter, and the fancy Eno FW by White industries even more so. (I'm picky!)
But I fell in love with fixed, so I haven't used the FW except for the test ride.
I don't think you can open or repair one of these cheap freewheels. Especially if you intend to ride SS instead of fixed, I'd reccomend getting a better unit.