Hi everyone,

I have an odd problem. I have a new wheel and new freewheel. When I tried to install the freewheel yesterday, I turned it clockwise to tighten it. The freewheel seemed pretty good as I was turning it to get it on.

However, about 4/5 of the way to the end, it started to get "sticky" where the freewheel will turn clockwise but no longer easily turns counter clockwise.

When it's only about 1/2 way in, the freewheel turns counter clockwise just fine.

In the end, I tightened it but when I tried to ride the bike, sure enough, the freewheel was not turning backwards and when it did, the chain would just flop down.

I thought maybe I needed a freewheel spacer but my LBS guy said that it shouldn't be necessary. He asked me to bring the wheel in so that he can look at it.

Anyone here have any thoughts? I apologize for the dark and blurry video but it was taken with my cell phone and i hope you can see what i mean. It's almost like this bike is now a fixie.

https://youtu.be/Rbf4y6enn6g

Your video doesn't provide any of the relevant information: brand of bike, derailleur or freewheel/cassette. Just knowing whether you had a freewheel or cassette (they're not the same) will point to possible solutions.

Some setups require a spacer under the freewheel or cassette- what you describe indicates this. Knowing what kind of parts you have will help.

You said freewheel so I'll take your word for it. You also said it was new, which is interesting because I had a similar thing happen to a vintage freewheel. Basically, it was gummed up and had to be cleaned out with a penetrating oil. I then lubed it with some heavy oil. Worked like a charm. The pawls inside the freewheel can get gummed up and will not function properly. This one being new, not so much. Unless it is frozen up for some other reason?