brokenrobot

Of the common brands, what's the quietest available BMX freewheel? That loud clicking drives me NUTS!

Thanks!

-chris

Darin

Not sure of brands, but I'm sure you can expect to spend some considerable $$. When ever I was asking at the bike shop I got a super short education on them, All I remember is that I could not believe the price of some.

BMXrider1255

two comments 1. expensive 2. i heard a primo is pretty quiet but i could be wrong

Brian

Never stop pedalling.

FireTeamCharlie

WD-40 the crap out of the freewheel, thats quiets it down most of the time.

Brian

No wonder you have so many problems.

bmichaelx

Get a cessette hub, that should solve your problems.

hypersnazz

How loud a freewheel is depends on how much factory lubricant is present. If you're a moron and spray it full of WD-40 (which is NOT a lubricant), the lighter oil breaks down the factory grease and washes it away, resulting in MORE noise. Unfortunately since freewheels aren't serviceable, there's no way to get inside there with some Slick Honey or Tenacious Oil and quiet those pawls down. With a cassette hub it *is* possible to quiet the mechanism down by removing the driver and applying the aforementioned lubricant. DO NOT use grease (such as Park Polylube) in a cassette body as it will cause it to slip teeth, thus destroying your expensive hub (it's too thick).

Brian

Your next thread will be "Why did my freewheel blow its guts out"?

sxe fbm rider

Cassette hubs make noise.. Make a fixed gear bmx. may a bit difficult to do tricks, but you wont hear any noise. And I love the clicking sound. Whenever I hear it I think of riding.

hypersnazz

Mine's actually pretty quiet. I greased up the hub shell with Phil's Tenacious Oil when I installed the 1-piece driver, haven't touched it since. And don't forget that freecoasters run silent as well.

Brian

Mmmm. Nexus...

Get a coaster brake if you want silence.

hypersnazz

Nexus hubs don't run silent, they're just greased up and sealed at the factory so noise is minimized.

Coaster brakes and freecoasters operate on the same principle, one simply lacks brakes and turns freely in reverse (hence the name).

Brian

Fine, don't let me be a smartass.

sxe fbm rider

I didnt say they were loud just that they made noise and it isnt worth spending $200 just to get rid of the niose of a freewheel is all.

hypersnazz

You *might* be able to quiet it down somewhat if it's really loud by squirting some T-9 in there.

whoo-flung-poo

if you flip the freewheel over (the side facing the spokes when installed) you can put a ridge of thick grease (phil wood or whatever) and spin the freewheel... as it turns itll suck up the grease. takes some time but itll suck down a good amt of grease and tick softer when riding( personally i like the clicking)

CMcMahon

Cassettes are generally louder than freewheels, guy.

BMXrider1255

agreeded mine is fricking quiet as hell i put some type of grease that actually is good for the bike not wd40 not a good idea or and other spray on luberacant (cant spell) i dont know what kind of grease if i can find the tube i will tell u what it is

hypersnazz

Only because Primo and Profile are so cheap they won't put a minimal amount of grease in the shell and your average BMXer doesn't even know it comes apart to put some in.

CMcMahon

Actually, I think that it's because most of us like them loud. It's a good gauge of speed.

Brian

You guys ever heard them at the race track? Loud freewheels sound great once you're going heaps fast.

brokenrobot

Sure, but they're not nearly as nice when you're rolling down the road next to the river, all alone at night, watching the silent city scroll by...

I've got a Dicta and a Shimano coming, since I foudn tehm both cheap... will grease up both and see which one is quieter. That ought to work for now, until I luck into a deal on one of the pricy ones...

Thanks, everybody!

-chris

Brian

Oh, so you're looking for the "Romantic" freehweel?

Darin