gitaneusa.com Forum Index » Vintage Gitane » Wobbly freewheel - not a major concern?    View previous topic :: View next topic  Wobbly freewheel - not a major concern?   Posted: Sat Sep 28, 2013 6:40 pm mountaindave Joined: 22 Jun 2010 Posts: 75 Location: Flathead Valley, MT As I understand it, freewheels don't really need to be rebuilt because they don't depend on bearings to function properly. In other words, they work when the pawls engage and they no longer spin - they drive the hub/wheel. Therefore, if my freewheels have a bit of wobble in them, it isn't necessarily something I should stress about. They don't need to be repacked regularly like hubs, bottom brackets and (to a lesser extent) headsets. Opinions? MD Re: Wobbly freewheel - not a major concern?   Posted: Sun Sep 29, 2013 1:52 am verktyg Joined: 14 Jan 2007 Posts: 2814 Location: SF Bay Area mountaindave wrote: As I understand it, freewheels don't really need to be rebuilt because they don't depend on bearings to function properly. In other words, they work when the pawls engage and they no longer spin - they drive the hub/wheel. Well, yes and no... When you pedal, the pawls engage and it becomes a "solid" drive element. When you stop pedaling the wheel keeps turning but the freewheel "freewheels". It runs on the small ball bearing in the outside and inside bearing races. Clear as mud eh? mountaindave wrote: Therefore, if my freewheels have a bit of wobble in them, it isn't necessarily something I should stress about. They don't need to be repacked regularly like hubs, bottom brackets and (to a lesser extent) headsets. Most freewheels have a slight bit of wobble. Sometimes it's due to too much slop in the assembly. Very thin shims are used behind the adjusting rings in the outer surface of the freewheel. Too many and the the freewheel wobbles too much and can make clicking sounds. Too few and the freewheel doesn't turn smoothly if at all. LUBRICATION (From Saint Sheldon Brown): "Lubricating Freewheels Freewheels should be oiled from time to time with a medium-weight oil. This is easy to do, and generally requires no disassembly. The bike should be held with the rear wheel off the ground, and leaning to the left at about a 45 degree angle. An assistant may be helpful for this. Turn the pedals around a couple of times to get the wheel spinning fast, then let it coast (helps to be in high gear for this.) Look inside the smallest sprocket. The sprocket will be stationary, since the wheel is coasting, but you'll see an inner part of the freewheel that is spinning with the wheel. Drip oil onto the crack between the turning part and the stationary part. Gravity and capillary action will help work oil into the freewheel. Repeat this a few times, until you hear a change in the sound of the clicking pawls (they'll generally get quieter when the oil reaches them.) This should be done every year or so, or any time that coasting sounds loud and gritty." I've used WD40 to flush out the old grease and loosen sticking pawls. After the WD40 dries up I use Phil Oil which is a 90 weight machinery oil. Otherwise I use a light oil to lubricate freewheels. One hint, it helps to remove the freewheel and clean the front and back surfaces so that you don't flush and dirt or crud into the bearings. Last edited by verktyg on Sun Oct 06, 2013 8:17 pm; edited 1 time in total _________________ Chas. SF Bay Area, CA USA ============== 1984 Criterium 1969 TdF 1971 TdF 1974 TdF 1984 TdF x 2 Bikes 1970 SC 1971 SC 1972 SC 1984 SC 1984 Team Pro 1985 Professional 1990s Team Replica   Posted: Sun Sep 29, 2013 10:04 am mountaindave Joined: 22 Jun 2010 Posts: 75 Location: Flathead Valley, MT While not experienced in this matter, it seems to be a minor wobble. My '73 TdF also has a minor wobble in the freewheel - it is a Maillard IIRC. My tandem has an Atom freewheel. Thanks for the tip on oiling. I have the tools to remove the freewheels for surface cleaning. I don't have the tools to open them up however, and I'm pretty sure I don't want to go down that road. They sound normal so a good cleaning/oiling is in order. Thanks! Disassembling Freewheels   Posted: Sun Sep 29, 2013 2:34 pm verktyg Joined: 14 Jan 2007 Posts: 2814 Location: SF Bay Area Disassembling a freewheel should be looked at as a post mortem event (autopsy)! Once you get the outside lock ring loose, be prepared for a shower of tiny ball bearings falling all over the place! I rebuilt one or two freewheels back in the early 70s (before I knew any better). Consider it an exercise in futility! Freewheels are consumable components that wear out - both the cogs and the innards. Keeping the chain and cogs clean and lubricated will prolong their life along with an occasion shot of oil into the innards (after cleaning off the built up crud on the outside so that the oil doesn't carry it into the bearings etc.). I've been using White Lightning Clean Ride chain lube for the past few years. It goes on wet but quickly evaporates leaving a heavy duty wax based lubricant on the chain. The stuff has 2 nice features: it's isn't greasy or messy and as dirt builds up on the chain it's self cleaning - the wax catches the crud and falls off in use. There are similar products on the market - also there are other (dirty, messy) products for ridding in wetter conditions. Among the hard core bikie set, chain lube recommendations are much akin to making "how to" suggestions about activities in the sanctity of one's boudoir! _________________ Chas. SF Bay Area, CA USA ============== 1984 Criterium 1969 TdF 1971 TdF 1974 TdF 1984 TdF x 2 Bikes 1970 SC 1971 SC 1972 SC 1984 SC 1984 Team Pro 1985 Professional 1990s Team Replica   Posted: Sun Sep 29, 2013 7:13 pm mountaindave Joined: 22 Jun 2010 Posts: 75 Location: Flathead Valley, MT Oh, I've looked down the "what do you use on your chain" road - it is dark and full of blind curves. I use what works for me and let sleeping dogs lie. I've considered the wax route, but have seen so many people complain about squeeky chains after a few miles. It would sure be nice on dusty roads - that's what gets me the quickest. Re: freewheel rebuilds, that's pretty much what I intuited from discussions. Not worth my time. The trouble is, determining what thread is on the hub and what I could possibly get to replace it if it ever went out (or I wanted to get some shorter gears for hills)? I would probably have to take it to a LBS because I don't have a big enough collection of parts to check what's what. MD Freewheel Threads   Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2013 12:16 am verktyg Joined: 14 Jan 2007 Posts: 2814 Location: SF Bay Area What make and model rear hub do you have? Can you remove the freewheel, clean off the crud and take some pictures of the threaded area of the hub? I'll do my best with info and suggestions for a freewheel. BTW, a few months back I put together my 1984 Team Pro and threw in some temporary clinchers until I build the proper sewups for the bike. I used what seemed to be a good vintage 6 speed Suntour freewheel. It was clean with very low mileage. I noticed that it had quite a bit of wobble. While test riding the bike, I kept hearing/feeling some loud clicking coming from the rear. After checking all of the usual suspects I found that the freewheel itself was so loose that it was catching on the inside when I stomped on the pedals. I replaced it with another vintage FW and all is well now. Last edited by verktyg on Sun Oct 06, 2013 8:18 pm; edited 1 time in total _________________ Chas. SF Bay Area, CA USA ============== 1984 Criterium 1969 TdF 1971 TdF 1974 TdF 1984 TdF x 2 Bikes 1970 SC 1971 SC 1972 SC 1984 SC 1984 Team Pro 1985 Professional 1990s Team Replica   Posted: Wed Oct 02, 2013 8:26 pm mountaindave Joined: 22 Jun 2010 Posts: 75 Location: Flathead Valley, MT I'll get some more info this weekend... Don't know what hub the tandem is, but it lacks a punch mark on the back so must be French? The '73 TdF is a high-flange Campy hub. From the bike boom era when they coundn't get enough French hubs?   Posted: Wed Oct 02, 2013 10:20 pm verktyg Joined: 14 Jan 2007 Posts: 2814 Location: SF Bay Area mountaindave wrote: Don't know what hub the tandem is, but it lacks a punch mark on the back so must be French? The '73 TdF is a high-flange Campy hub. From the bike boom era when they coundn't get enough French hubs? Tandem??? Did I miss something? Gitane started using Campagnolo Nuovo Tipo hubs (with round holes) about 1972. Prior to that Gitane used Normandy Luxe Competition hubs on TdFs. Peugeot probably had more pull with Maillard/Normandy that Gitane back then. They were used on Peugeot PX-10 bikes. There were some marks designating threads on Campy rear hubs back then. _________________ Chas. SF Bay Area, CA USA ============== 1984 Criterium 1969 TdF 1971 TdF 1974 TdF 1984 TdF x 2 Bikes 1970 SC 1971 SC 1972 SC 1984 SC 1984 Team Pro 1985 Professional 1990s Team Replica   Posted: Sun Oct 06, 2013 4:02 pm JJScaliger Joined: 20 Feb 2013 Posts: 2 Location: United States This is great advice. My Interclub has a Suntour perfect whose pawls that were making scary noises and sticking sporadically, mostly on long descents. I flushed it out with WD40 as described above and when I took my Gitane for a 30 mile ride today the symptoms were gone. I'll have to add some thicker lube to the freewheel sometime soon. Thanks verktyg!   Posted: Sun Oct 06, 2013 8:49 pm mountaindave Joined: 22 Jun 2010 Posts: 75 Location: Flathead Valley, MT Here are hubs and freewheels from the three Gitanes I have: 1970-ish Tandem: No idea what the hubs are - no markings whatsoever. Atom freewheel - note the lack of a punch, therefore French thread. 1970-ish TdF Normandy Luxe Competition (gold label) hub Atom freewheel. 1973 TdF: Campagnolo (Tipo? no marking) high flange hubs Normandy freewheel. The interesting thing I finally discovered upon photographing all of these wheels is that they ALL have a wobble - more or less the same amount. I haven't taken the TdFs' freewheels off, but I'd bet dollars to doughnuts that they are all French thread, not British, like the tandem's freewheel... OK, I take that back. I don't know what the Campy hub would be threaded even though it has a Normandy freewheel on it. MD Wobbly freewheel - not a major concern?     gitaneusa.com Forum Index » Vintage Gitane You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum All times are GMT - 8 Hours   Page 1 of 1   All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First  Select a forum Gitane USA----------------Vintage GitaneGitane RacingModern GitanePro Racing - Classics/Giro/Tour....Owner Gallery   Powered by phpBB © 2001-2004 phpBB Group Designed for Trushkin.net | Themes Database.