In all seriousness, no freewheel or freehub is entirely without friction. If your bottom bracket is really smooth and free, the freewheel/freehub can sometimes move the cranks when coasting. The question is, will the wheel keep spinning if you stop the pedals? If yes, IMO, you have nothing to worry about.
Sufficient-Bank-4491 on
Usually a tolerance issue with freehub bottoming out on hub body/bearing. Some hubs will use a shim spacer that can get lost or crushed.
If you loosen the axle, I bet the freehub will start freewheeling as it should and then lock up when axle is tight again?
mjgaylord on
Freehub needs a good clean and some lube. Maybe new bearings if they are crunchy.
SpamOJavelin on
If your bottom bracket bearings spin very easily (the bearing seals wear and won’t drag much over time), or your freehub has a bit of drag, or a combination of the two, this is expected.
I’d say this is a normal amount of drag, but it won’t hurt to clean and re-lube the freehub if you haven’t done so for a while (or ever).
5 Comments
Freehub needs service
It ain’t got no gas in it.
In all seriousness, no freewheel or freehub is entirely without friction. If your bottom bracket is really smooth and free, the freewheel/freehub can sometimes move the cranks when coasting. The question is, will the wheel keep spinning if you stop the pedals? If yes, IMO, you have nothing to worry about.
Usually a tolerance issue with freehub bottoming out on hub body/bearing. Some hubs will use a shim spacer that can get lost or crushed.
If you loosen the axle, I bet the freehub will start freewheeling as it should and then lock up when axle is tight again?
Freehub needs a good clean and some lube. Maybe new bearings if they are crunchy.
If your bottom bracket bearings spin very easily (the bearing seals wear and won’t drag much over time), or your freehub has a bit of drag, or a combination of the two, this is expected.
I’d say this is a normal amount of drag, but it won’t hurt to clean and re-lube the freehub if you haven’t done so for a while (or ever).