Freehub body play (bicycle) - how to fix?

aigel · aigel's Garage

Bikers!!!

So, after putting a new bottom bracket on my commuter, big clunk and tick noises went away, but now that it is nice and quiet, I hear another noise, on and off, about every 15 minutes that was masked earlier. It is a very light clunk, usually when starting to pedal after a period of rest.

Upon inspection, i find my cassette has play. Pulled it off the hub and it looks that all the play is coming from the freehub body. I doubt the free hub is loose. It feels like bearing play.

This is how it looks when cassette remains installed (not my vid - mine has less play, about 1/3 of what is shown in this video).

What is the fix for this? Do I install a new freehub? Do I buy a new bike? Do I got to the doctor for OCD help?

G

look 171 · 04-21-2016, 10:45 PM

Is it the freehub body that's going south? i think you are missing a spacer for the cassette. Are you running 9 , 10 or 11 speed? 9 and 10 speed requires a spacer. That's what it looks like, George.

look 171 · 04-21-2016, 10:46 PM

Pull the cassette and spin the freehub body and you should see it wiggle like that. If that's what's going on, its time to replace the freehub body. Shimano, they are cheap and durable.

aigel · aigel's Garage

I pulled the cassette to find out if it was play between the cassette and freehub, I.e. From spacers or loose cassette retainer. Nope. All the play is between the feehub and the wheel when cassette is off!

nzporsche944s2 · 04-21-2016, 11:49 PM

I think some play there is acceptable.
There is usually some axial play in the hub body when the wheel is out but not when it's in the frame

look 171 · 04-22-2016, 12:09 AM

Its time to slam one of these inexpensive Shimano (you are running shimano?) freehub bodies in there. Its a mtb, right? match up the correct one and put on new and it will go for a long time. Not time for a new bike yet, unless you like a new one. But then again, its always time for a new bike.

rwest · rwest's Garage

Clunks are hard to track down- one area that I have had a lot of trouble with and was hard to figure out is the pedal to crank area, I solved it with a couple wraps of plumbers tape on the threads.

Oh yes, the dream of a silent bike-.will be the death of many! Good luck.

greglepore · 04-22-2016, 02:34 AM

Yes, just replace the body. Bearing replacement not worth the trouble. removal is easy, instructions all over the web.

M.D. Holloway · 04-22-2016, 04:40 AM

its the bearings, its always the bearings...

GH85Carrera · GH85Carrera's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by M.D. Holloway

its the bearings, its always the bearings...

Ball bearing!

look 171 · 04-22-2016, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rwest

Clunks are hard to track down- one area that I have had a lot of trouble with and was hard to figure out is the pedal to crank area, I solved it with a couple wraps of plumbers tape on the threads.

Oh yes, the dream of a silent bike-.will be the death of many! Good luck.

You will be amaze how much faster you can go with just a few drops of chain lube

. the quieter the running gear, the faster you FEEL like you are going. Want a new bike, oil the chain. Feels like a new bike and faster. Yet, you are still the last guy up the damn hill.

aigel · aigel's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by nzporsche944s2

I think some play there is acceptable.
There is usually some axial play in the hub body when the wheel is out but not when it's in the frame

Not if it makes noise!

Also, it has the same amount of play when mounted.

Thanks!

G

aigel · aigel's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by look 171

You will be amaze how much faster you can go with just a few drops of chain lube

. the quieter the running gear, the faster you FEEL like you are going. Want a new bike, oil the chain. Feels like a new bike and faster. Yet, you are still the last guy up the damn hill.

LOL. I am anal about noises. I need to just hear a uniform mechanical whizz from the drivetrain. I always cringe when people go by on nice bikes with a nasty squeaky chain!

G

aigel · aigel's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by look 171

Its time to slam one of these inexpensive Shimano (you are running shimano?) freehub bodies in there. Its a mtb, right? match up the correct one and put on new and it will go for a long time. Not time for a new bike yet, unless you like a new one. But then again, its always time for a new bike.

Hybrid - Giant Escape 2 from about 5 years ago. Shimano Casette. Not sure what the hub is!?

G

herr_oberst · 04-22-2016, 07:32 AM

I think I have a new freehub somewhere around here - IIRC, it's a 9 speed, I bought it hoping it had a seal that I needed. (FU, Shimano for not supplying wear parts for your products)

If you have 9 speed let me know and check it out to see if it'll work for your needs and if it does, I'll ship it off to you'se...

look 171 · 04-22-2016, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aigel

LOL. I am anal about noises. I need to just hear a uniform mechanical whizz from the drivetrain. I always cringe when people go by on nice bikes with a nasty squeaky chain!

G

Well, that because you are flying by them with your whisper quiet high horse power bike. Told you I know what I am talking about when it comes to free power

Oh what mechanical buzz

look 171 · 04-22-2016, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aigel

Hybrid - Giant Escape 2 from about 5 years ago. Shimano Casette. Not sure what the hub is!?

G

Take it off (go and match it up at the bike shop)and just buy an inexpensive Shimano one and it will go for almost ever. I wouldn't spend a lot of money on this lil' thing. I spend money on a new wheel instead.

I was so anal back then, I even injected grease into the hub body to quiet up the ratchet. This way, in my all quiet down hill charge (without pedaling of course), they wouldn't hear me coming as I fly by em'. Of course I am kidding, they are long gone on the other side of the hill while my fat ass is still trying to get up it, but I did quiet up that free hub body.

Tell you the truth, my chain get a few drops of oil once every couple of months, its not the quietest bike around. Mechanically, its always in top operation condition as I carry no tools with me when I go out. One tire lever, one tube and one can of CO2 gas. Thanks goodness for cell phone.

herr_oberst · 04-22-2016, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by look 171

One tire lever, one tube and one can of CO2 gas. Thanks goodness for cell phone.

Dang, I wish I could be more like you...I lard up my bike and body with 40 pounds of crap just to go across town....

look 171 · 04-22-2016, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

I think I have a new freehub somewhere around here - IIRC, it's a 9 speed, I bought it hoping it had a seal that I needed. (FU, Shimano for not supplying wear parts for your products)

If you have 9 speed let me know and check it out to see if it'll work for your needs and if it does, I'll ship it off to you'se...

Seals? Seals are for wusses. Muhahahaha Too damn heavy

look 171 · 04-22-2016, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

Dang, I wish I could be more like you...I lard up my bike and body with 40 pounds of crap just to go across town....

Well, oil does make you look sexy with those spandex even though many real men here hate them.

I hate having all that crap on the bike. If I flat now, It gets fixed and just go on home.

I do love the wide mouth bottles. Thinking about stuffing all that in there instead of my pocket. With these new seats, I can't seem to fit a tube, lever and the gas back there any more. Oh, no, I can't deal with that saddle bag. It gets rolled up in a plastic and rapped tightly with duct tape and Velcro strap to the sat rails.