Sticky freewheel

kjlcm said:

The freewheel on my relatively new bike (< 10 rides) has gotten gummed up so that it wants to keep turning with the wheel. This results in the chain getting slack on the top between the rear gear cluster and the top of my crank ring when I am not pedaling. I have been riding for many years and have never experienced this. I have not done any riding out of the ordinary mud that I typically encounter on spring trails. Could this be due to a factory defect (lack of grease, etc.)? Any idea on how to fix? I am basically looking for some info to go back to my bike shop with.

You can take the cluster of sprockets off and strip out and clean the freewheel. Instructions given at the
Park Tool website.

A number of tools are required including chainwhip, cassette lockring tool, and a funny size hex key (10mm I think). If you dont have all this it is probably best going to your LBS and getting them to do it, as for the price of all the tools you could probably buy a new wheels. HTH David.