maddyfish

I was cleaning the salt and grime from my ACS claw 18 tooth BMX freewheel equiped Single speed bike, pouring hot water over it, and noticed really nasty rusty water running out of the freewheel. Is there some sort of maintainace I should be doing to it? I can't think of anything other than maybe soaking it in oil? Am I missing something?

sp00ki

True story:
there's a forum dedicated to exactly the type of componentry you're attempting to discuss here.

maddyfish

Yes I thought about that, but I figure very few BMX bikes get 5000-6000 miles a year on them as my bike does. So BMX guys would be unlikely to know alot about using BMX freewheels long term on road in all weather type conditions.

sp00ki

8(

you win.

bonechilling

Not only that, but most BMX bikes use freehubs, now. It would be better to ask the mechains forum, though. They'll no, and won't give you any snark.

riderx

Hey, this is the Single Speed & Fixed Gear forum, so this is as good a place as any.

First, water is not a good thing to be flushing that freewheel with. Hopefully you followed it up with some type of lube before rust set in. Best thing for the low end freewheels (anything other than White Industries) is to find a plastic container thats' wide enough for the freewheel to sit flat and fill with an inch of Simple Green or Citrus solvent. Drop the freewheel in and swirl the thing around good. Pick it up, spin the body a bunch to loosen the built up junk, drop back in the solvent and swirl again. Do this a few times until it sounds better when you spin it. Then flush with some clean solvent and put it on a rag or paper towel and let it drain and dry out overnight.

Next squirt some heavy lube in the gab between the body and the teeth so it gets in the pawls. I like the Finish Line thick green Cross Country lube. Spin to work it in, then repeat. Clean it up nice so it won't pick up extra dirt and install.

Then start saving for a White Industries

maddyfish

^^^^^I've never done anything to it. It has 1500 or so miles on it now. I rode it INTO the ocean on the beach in Daytona last year. It has seen ocean salt, sand, road salt here at home, everything. I probably need a new one now then. And then to begin caring for it.

bonechilling

Or you could buy a new $10 freewheel, which is what I'd do.

barba

I actually just consider them a consumable item. If I could afford a White ENO I would feel different, but as it stands I just swap them when they get too crunchy.