freewheel fun
 

ok. I've done a search and read a few threads. and now I'm suffering from information overload.

so here's my deal. I have a Regina Futura freewheel on my bike. it's not coasting so well, but I don't think anything is wrong with it. I think it needs to be flushed because it's pretty dirty. not gritty, just sludgy.

so what do I need to do to bring this freewheel back to optimal riding condition? soak it in solvent, dry it and relube it? or do I just flush it out with WD-40 then relube it?

then, do I relube it with 30 weight motor oil? sewing machine oil? Tri-Flow? gun oil? light weight bike lube products with teflon?

if anyone can clarify, then thanks!

please don't respond and tell me to read the old threads. been there, done that. it helped, but it didn't.

I simply slowly spin mine horizontally while dripping almost any oil (3-in-1, motor oil, bike oil, sewing machine oil, etc.) into the high gear side. The ratchet noise will change as you drip; keep going until it sounds good and oil has been dripping out the low gear side.

Take the freewheel off the hub. Flush with WD-40 or other penetrant (KROIL, etc) and spin until it frees up and spins easily and smoothly. Don't go lightly - hose it down repeatedly and liberally while spinning.

Follow up with light oil of your choice - motor oil, gun oil, etc.

Alternately, you can soak it in a dish of kerosene and spin the gunk out. Lube as above.

thanks for the advice (both of you so far). it's looking like I'm going to try the WD-40 route. I live in an apartment and leaving something soaking in kerosene sounds....unpleasant.

still open to other advice though. does biodegradable solvent do the same as kerosene?

You can try soaking it in a pie tin full of Simple Green and hot water. I did that with a chain and got it absolutely free of grit and grease. It really came out sparkling.

I'd still hose it out with WD-40 afterwards, though.

thanks again for the advice. this weekend I soaked the freewheel in degreaser and worked out all the gunk. my gears are a nice, shiny silverish color now. and the freewheel spins so much smoother, though I'm thinking the futura was not the highest quality piece of equipment in the first place. even in its new cleaned out state it doesn't spin as smoothly as other freewheels. I'd love to get another suntour corncob set like the one I wore out.

I might have one - let me check when I get home. PM me as a reminder.......

I think that everyone should detail strip and reassemble a freewheel at least once to discover:
1) it's really kinda fun
OR
2) what a stupid idea taking it apart was.
I fall into 1), butI'll leave you to draw your own conclusions
Top

If we are talking about a real freewheel (not a freehub with cassette) I fall in category 1.

I read Sheldons instructions (ignored all the red warnings of course) and after removing the lock ring about 70 little bullets fell on the floor ;) What a fun!
But after a total cleaning of all the bullets, other parts like the pegs, the sprockets etc, I managed to get my Shimano freewheel back in near new state.. And that was satisfying! It worked like a charm again.

too many little pieces. I'd lose at least half. I'd definitely be a number 2er

soak it in varsol solvent overnight, then spin the freewheel, resoak to rinse out the gunk, and then rinse out the solvent with 99% Methyl hydrate to remove all traces of the oily Varsol. Then drip in ATF fluid (auto tranny fluid). Best freewheel lube ever. 10 drops will do ya. I have a freewheel from the 70's thats still running strong using this method.

Tri flo is my new best friend... plus I have an unlimited supply of it... It`ll disolve anything. frees up freewheels great, then follow with phil wood tenacious oil. And it`s great... I have a question though... I have an NOS regina freehwheel, something doesn`t feel right when I spin and something is rattling inside... do I dare open it up

Having completely overhauled and rebuilt a few freewheels in the 1970s, including holding the pawls in place with fishing line during reassembly (common trick on 1960s Regina units), I would rather just clean and reoil as described in this thread, even though this must be done much more frequently than the total rebuild.

cyclotoine: Your Regina has two or more spring-loaded pawls, one of which may have chipped or lost its spring tension. Before trusting it during an out-of-saddle sprint or climb, you may want to try opening it up.