Hi all - I am new to bike maintenance, and took apart the rear hub of my 1977 Centurion Super Le Mans to see how it works without paying enough attention to where all the pieces were coming from. While I was at it, I cleaned the ball bearings and am putting it back together.

It seems to be back together decently, but there is a small spring that I couldn't figure out where it was supposed to go. Can anyone help identify where it should go?

It's a bit awkward to deal with because I don't have a tool to remove the freewheel. I guess I should get one!

I would post a photo of the spring but this forum won't allow me to as a new member.

Typically you don't remove the freewheel to clean and lube axle bearings. Do you have a quick release axle? Are you certain the spring doesn't go on the end of it?

Just write the link to your pic in the plain text of your message. Then remove the https:// and put a space on either side of any . (dot)

[QUOTE=Iride01;21956360]Typically you don't remove the freewheel to clean and lube axle bearings. Do you have a quick release axle? Are you certain the spring doesn't go on the end of it?



Thank you. Yes, I do have a quick release axle, and still have both of the springs for that. This is a 3rd spring that is slightly differently sized. I took apart the front axle as well and there were no springs there.

Try this for the image of the spring please: ibb.co/Kq6cswx

That's a quick release spring. One on each end of the skewer. Critical to skewer operation? NO, just makes life easier.

pic assist...

Thank you. Seems weird because I already have 2 quick release springs, but makes more sense than if it went somewhere in the hub itself.

Might be that two were entangled together accidentally when new. And just separated when you cleaned everything. Is it the same size as the others?

It looks very slightly smaller than the others. I bought it used from a place that rehabs old bikes so they could have easily accidentally added a 3rd spring.

Small end to the inside.

A 1977 Asian made bike would almost certainly be a freewheeled one. Sure one can work through the FW, getting to the RH bearing, but FW removal makes this so much easier and then one can also clean and lube the FW easier at the same time.

Agreed that it seems like the spring is a conical shaped QR one. There is a slight range of size between brands and eras but all were designed to fit in the same place so need to be pretty much the same general shape/size. Many people get confused WRT those QE springs. We see them backwards, missing, doubled up routinely. Andy

[QUOTE=Andrew R Stewart;21956573]A 1977 Asian made bike would almost certainly be a freewheeled one. Sure one can work through the FW, getting to the RH bearing, but FW removal makes this so much easier and then one can also clean and lube the FW easier at the same time.

Thank you. Yes, I have determined now that it is a freewheel, and I plan to purchase a freewheel remover so that I can clean it nicely.