I put a Shimano megarange freewheel on my cheap MTB and the 'freeness' of it has been reducing over the last few months. Someone on this NG suggested soaking it in sunflower oil which did the trick, but only for about 6 weeks. I've since done the same again which revived it but only for 2 weeks this time and it's now got to the point where freewheeling down a hill pulls the chain over the top, stretching the springs on the deraileur so when I try and pedal again I have to take up considerable slack in the chain.
I'm swapping it for the original freewheel as soon as it stops raining. I've not exactly looked after the megarange one as if it were offspring, but should it have failed so quickly? (only 7-8 months ~ 600 miles use)
I put a Shimano megarange freewheel on my cheap MTB and the 'freeness' of it has been reducing over the last few months. Someone on this NG suggested soaking it in sunflower oil which did the trick, but only for about 6 weeks. I've since done the same again which revived it but only for 2 weeks this time and it's now got to the point where freewheeling down a hill pulls the chain over the top, stretching the springs on the deraileur so when I try and pedal again I have to take up considerable slack in the chain.
How about first soaking and flushing in solvent, then soaking in light oil? ...An oil that's intended for mechanical things rather than cooking!!! Sunflower oil is bound to become too gunky after a while.
Ignore advice from chefs in future ;-)
There could be more of a fault than mere stickiness, though. I normally associate sticking pawls with lack of drive (freewheel mode all the time) rather than the other way round.
Quoted message said:
I'm swapping it for the original freewheel as soon as it stops raining. I've not exactly looked after the megarange one as if it were offspring, but should it have failed so quickly? (only 7-8 months ~ 600 miles use)
I put a Shimano megarange freewheel on my cheap MTB and the 'freeness' of it has been reducing over the last few months. Someone on this NG suggested soaking it in sunflower oil which did the trick, but only for about 6 weeks. I've since done the same again which revived it but only for 2 weeks this time and it's now got to the point where freewheeling down a hill pulls the chain over the top, stretching the springs on the deraileur so when I try and pedal again I have to take up considerable slack in the chain.
I'm swapping it for the original freewheel as soon as it stops raining. I've not exactly looked after the megarange one as if it were offspring, but should it have failed so quickly? (only 7-8 months ~ 600 miles use)
Is has had a tough life. If you had used it regularely it would have had an easier life! Now it has been rusting away, with sporadic bouts of getting wet again. There is a URC rule about bringing bikes in kitchens, but using sunflower oil without any anti-corrosion dopes is going to far 😉
You might try this, but you need a steady hand.
Clean the freewheel and put the wheel freeheelside up. loosen the bearingcone of the freewheel with punch and a hammer. The bearingcone is the ring with two small holes (to set your punch against) and the Shimano stamp. Is has LH threads so it will have to turn in the CW direction. Once it moves unscrew it further, while keeping the freewheel firmly pushed on the wheel (you DONT want 50 odd bearings jumping out) Remove the cone Fill the freewheel with lots of engine-oil (you can carefully turn the freewheel backwards which helps the flushing). Replace the cone and knock it tight
"naked_draughtsman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
I put a Shimano megarange freewheel on my cheap MTB and the 'freeness' of it has been reducing over the last few months. Someone on this NG suggested soaking it in sunflower oil which did the trick, but only for about 6 weeks. I've since done the same again which revived it but only for 2 weeks this time and it's now got to the point where freewheeling down a hill pulls the chain over the top, stretching the springs on the deraileur so when I try and pedal again I have to take up considerable slack in the chain.
I'm swapping it for the original freewheel as soon as it stops raining. I've not exactly looked after the megarange one as if it were offspring, but should it have failed so quickly? (only 7-8 months ~ 600 miles use)
The freewheel on my bike is bloody ancient (I suspect original) and it still works fine even though the bearings are noisy (the bearings only work when they're under no load, so don't worry about it). I'd get the wheel off, get some brake cleaner or thinners (basically the same stuff), pour or spray it down the centre of the freewheel and wash out all the sunflower oil. Leave it to dry out, then put 3 in 1 or motor oil in it. Or use spray grease. I wouldn't bother stripping the freewheel down as they're pretty cheap items to buy. Sunflower oil *does* dry up and go gummy, so the pawls are probably sticking.
