rumrunn6

can I still ride it if it is noisy? the axle & hub bearings are fine, no sounds, no grinding but when coasting the freehub is noisy. I've seen videos of taking them apart, cleaning, lubing & re assembling, but can I just keep riding it without doing all that?. since it's old can I just buy another to replace it & kill two birds w one stone? this is on a 1991 Schwinn Crisscross, an old $50 beater I've been torturing, but not too badly

I think the bearings are noisy, beyond any noise the pawls make

70sSanO

You can always remove the freehub, flush it out and run some Phil's Tenacious Oil into it. If it quiets down, fine, if not try to find a new freehub. Personally, I wouldn't try to disassemble it.

John

Jeff Wills

If it's only noisy when coasting, then it's noisy when there's nearly no load on the bearings. Ride it unless it becomes a problem- cracking noises under load are something to be wary of.

If it's really bothersome, do as 70's suggests. I've done the same with a few Shimano freehubs and they're amazingly quiet when freshly overhauled.

andrewclaus

Agree with both the above. I've seen some soak overnight in a light oil in come out better.

rumrunn6

is our body weight carried by these bearings? or do you mean "under load" of pedaling torque?

fietsbob

Given, a cassette driver has the right end of the axle bearing race in it,
so it can be said 'Both'. but probably freewheeling is more applicable.

Maybe after all these decades you can buy a new freehub driver assembly.,,.
Distributors to bike shops stock older parts to keep older bikes repaired
and running.




...

rumrunn6

mind reader

Jeff Wills

No. The bearings carrying your weight are at the ends of the axle. If they were noisy, you would be hearing noise all the time. Since it's only noisy when coasting, it's the bearings or pawls inside the freehub body. Those bearing carry almost no load since they only rotate when you're not pedaling.

rumrunn6

OK good, thank you!

bicyclridr4life

1991? Original wheel and hub?
Are you sure it's a "freehub" and not a "freewheel"?
Freewheels were common in 1991. I'm not sure if freehubs were even invented then.

rumrunn6

oh OK, this is the bike
Schwinn catalogs, 1991 - 2000 (16 of 577)

rumrunn6

can't tell by looking at it can you?

Bill Kapaun

I hope so since my 86 Rockhopper came with one.

Jeff Wills

Freewheels were dying out by 1991. Shimano introduced their freehubs in the early '80's and they really took off with the mountain bike boom of the mid '80's.(No more broken axles!) I worked in a couple shops then warehouses through that decade and watched the demise of freewheels and the rise of freehubs. You can see the start of the change in this 1982 Shimano catalog: https://www.sheldonbrown.com/shimano1982/

Jeff Wills

It's tough to tell from that angle. I think you might have a freewheel hub. Here's a good article: https://www.sheldonbrown.com/free-k7.html

blamester

Pre hyperglide and doesn't look like uniglde twist tooth , so i would say freewheel.
They are cheap but unless you have good tools it' s difficult to remove at home.
lbs or mechanic .

Bill Kapaun

Spec's posted show Suntour shifters & DER's.
Hub could be ????