Well, my cutsey Raleigh sure has a lot of problems. Initially I was a little dissapointed since the bike was so clean and I thought there would be little to do to it. Well, I was wrong. Cosmetically it is very pretty but most parts have a thick coat of goo or varnish on them. Since I am so new, I thought maybe the chaing was supposed to be stiff. It took a long soaking and lots of brushing to get it clean and now I know what a chain should feel like.
I took off the rear wheel and replaced the tire and tube. At the same time I removed the bearings (the balls on one side had a funny color) One of the cones seems to have much more wear than the other but I figure I'll just live with it, unless I can find another cone.
However, HERE IS MY MAIN PROBLEM:
The cogs were stuck tight to the hub and I thought that was normal. That is until tonight when I realized that if the cogs turn with the wheel then the pedals and the chain would keep turning when coasting and that would be a real mess. When I thought of this I bolted out of bed and went out to the garage to inspect my wheel. Well, the wheel turns in one direction, independent of the cogs, but only with considerable effort. Enough effort that it scars up my hands from holding the cogs still. Certainly this is not normal.
What next?
I have thought of buying the tool that goes in a vice and removing the cogs (the freewhell?) but I don't think that would make much difference other than maybe giving me access to the inside of the freewheel mechanism. I see sets of cogs (freewheels) for sale on ebay but I don't think a new one of those will do me much good.
Everything I have removed from this bike has a thick brown muck wihch is obviously dry lubricant. Some of it has turned to varnish. I suspect that is the problem here. the dirrelaur was much the same way and it moves freely now after much soaking.
Any suggestions as to how I should proceed?
Lastly, I have forgotten how the shaft goes back in and which side the adjustable cone goes on and I gather this is important. Please enlighten me.
Sorry to be such a PITA but hey...I'm getting so smart!
Thanks,
Mirko
P.S. i am editing this as I distill some of this in the quiet cesspools of my brain. Is the freewheel mechanism integrated into the set of cogs so that if I buy so that if I buy and install this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Regina-Extra-CX-...QQcmdZViewItem
...my worries are over?