Freewheel question
 

I am wondering if there are any thread on style freewheels that are actually quite. I have has 4 ACS Freewheels and they all click and make popping kind of noises. I need something I can simply thread onto a 27" Rigida. for a single speed conversion on an older Nishiki. Any help appreciated.

White Industries makes the best freewheel, but not sure about the loudness. Why do you care about the sound? I kinda like the sound of a freewheel!! :)

I have an 18t WI trials freewheel on my 29er and it buzzes like a hornet, it's awesome. It literally is as loud as a locust.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhWxFEN1b6k

Guys, I am not referring to what it sounds like when it spins, I could care less about that sound. I am saying that something internal goes wrong with these ACS ones. They "pop", "tick", "clunk" and just about everything in between. Has anyone else every had this problem? THats what I mean when I ask I want a quiet freewheel. Something that has no problems but I do like loud ticking haha.

user errrrr hahah

My ACS does the same thing, clunking randomly under power. It's a shame, really, because it has really quick engagement.

I'm presently in the middle of adjusting the internal shims to try and tighten up the bearings. I'll post again if it succeeds. They don't assemble them with anything resembling grease, so I'm gonna put some in there while I'm at it to quiet down the pawls. The pawls have relatively strong leaf springs instead of the typical circlip spring so thick grease shouldn't degrade performance.

Shimano ftw.

No way, the end all for freewheels is WI. Completely rebuildable; they last forever and are worth the $100. Freewheels were normally considered disposable items before white industries came around, that's why they're $20 or less.

You buy a WI and use it from bike to bike. Plus, the trials freewheel has 72 points of engagement.

All freewheels make those noises, I have multiple Shimano and ACS FWs and they both do it. It gets less after they are broken in somewhat.

You can try the White Industries freewheel, but they are an order of magnitude more expensive.

I had a Dicta that didn't. Not that I'd use it again, but it didn't make those noises.

white industries if you have the cash they are really nice and sound like the chris king freewheels haven't serviced mine in years and it goes thru all the mu d and rain

for about 10-15 bucks at most bike shops you should be able to get the acs claws series they have 1/8" teeth and higher quality than the main drive series which is more than likely what you have I have had several main drives fail with in days of hitting rain water

Shimano free wheels run about 25.00 - 30.00, take a beating, and run quietly... there is not a better value out there if you are $$$ conscious. I used one on my winter bike for years and it still sees service and runs as well as it did on day 1.

The white industries is awesome... but it is $100.00

I don't find ACS freewheels to be worth their cost.

Old Suntour free wheels are incredibly nice but are hard to find.

This.

http://www.bikepartsplace.com/images/med/31276100.jpg

Just use a light grease or you may get stuck pawls.

They do not last forever. Eventually the teeth will wear, just like a cassette or a fg cog. Even considering the rebuildability, a single WI freewheel will not outlast 5-10 cheaper freewheels, which you could buy for the same money. I have never had a freewheel fail me...not even the cheapest dicta.

ok what ever you say the White freewheel is the mutts nuts and you can order replacement parts for it I only payed 75 or something for mine and it has already out last 4-5 shimano and acs freewheels I was using before

Yea dude, 5-10 freewheels at $20 a pop seems a hair over the $100 you could spend on a WI.

You can take the guts of an 18t trials freewheel and utilize them in any other tooth count WI freewheel.

Not to mention, I challenge you to find another freewheel or cassette hub with 72 points of engagement for less than the cost of a solid rear hub with a WI freewheel (my surly rear hub and WI trials freewheel were $170).

yeah I believe you are eluding to a chris king hub no?

Yep...Chris King or Hope Pro II or Hadley....those things cost an arm and a leg!

Just tested my modified ACS Claw on a hilly 50k in the rain. Removing one of the bearing shims got rid of the clunking noise (except in one or two of the many engagement positions) without overtightening the bearings. Waterproof marine grease softened the loud buzzing of the pawls to a light whine (I hate the sound of a freewheel).

So, success. But I only did it because I love screwing around with things. Buy a Shimano.

I actually ran a Shimano for a while and it did the same thing, so the guy that sold it to me used who happened to work at a shop replaced it with an ACS. But get this, the 4th revolution of my crank on a brand new ACS clicked....wtf. I don't like spending a lot of money on simple things such as freewheels so the price range for and ACS is right up my alley...I just wished they didnt click and pop and stuff.

the freewheel is the most complicated part of a single speed bike. one that really changes the way the bike responds. you're thinking of "seatpost".

Haha, my bad. I was rushing and I guess I didn't read what I was typing. I know it's a complicated part, just didn't think before I typed. Has anyone ever had an ACS freewheel not make a clunking noise?

Sounds like the design of the Maillard/Atom freewheels springs. (The Japanese FW's seem to use the circular wire type of spring.) I've had to make a pair of leaf springs out of a steel can to bring back one of those old freewheels.
Although, I'd try a lightweight grease (i.e. white lithium) first. Since the pawls and springs were meant for oil, a lite, non-tacky grease like WL might be the best place to start.

ACS freewheels have four pawls and only two of them are ever connected at a time. Because of this, the freewheel shell can move sideways while pedaling. This movement creates the clicking sound. They are cheap and badly engineered. Avoid them.

Shimano freewheels have three pawls which all connect creating a stable link between the shell and body (think of a camera tripod).

White freewheels probably have six pawls, right?