Binky

Hello to all.

New to this type of thing, I picked up a couple of older used (but not abused) single speed bikes cheap earlier this month, one steel and the other aluminum alloy.

Both bikes have 56cm frames so I set up the steel Gary Fisher Triton to fit my wife and the alloy VISP to fit me. 46 tooth drive on mine, 44 tooth on hers.

The rear cog on my bike was 17 tooth 1/8" fixed cog on one side and 17 tooth Shimano SF-MX30 with 3/32" teeth. I have 1/8" chain on the bike, of course. There was a bit of a rattle while running on the 3/32" freewheel but silence on the fixed gear (1/8") so I figured that the rattle was likely due to the rear freewheel teeth being too thin.

I replaced the 3/32" freewheel with a 17-tooth DICTA freewheel with 1/8" thick teeth.

The bike still rides silently when the fixed gear is used but I now get a rhythmic clicking from the rear when I use the freewheel. The click goes away when coasting, but comes on very audible when I pedal, especially up inclines.

Is this normal - or should the freewheel be silent while driving the bike ? I thought I'd ask before I pitch it.

Also, the rear hub has a crest on it with A C but no name. (see pix). Is this good, bad or somewhere in between ?
Fixed cog is Dura Ace.

Binky

rreahard

In my experience, cheap freewheels make a lot of noises. I had an ACS freewheel on my SS bike for a while and it was complete crap. I replaced it with a White Industries Eno freewheel and the difference is night and day. My WI freewheel is completely silent when pedaling. My chainring and chain are 1/8" and the WI freewheel is 3/32".

Standard Track Rear | All-City Cycles
Pretty sure this is the hub you have. I've never ridden one, but from what I hear they are pretty good quality. Not top of the line, but definitely not junk either.

edit: fixed typo.

ntdt

How can you get a chain 1/8" on a freewheel 3/16"? 1/8 < 3/16

rreahard

Typo. *3/32".

ntdt

Ok, because I have a NOS Sturmey Archer freewheel 3/16" (like this Sturmey-Archer Heritage :: History ) and 2 big chains 3/16".

Binky

Thanks for the info.

I won't worry about it -- and I'll either borrow the 17-tooth freewheel off my wife's bike or swap mine out for a better quality freewheel when I get the chance.

In the meantime, I'm getting used to riding the bike as a fixed gear bike and am enjoying the VISP immensely.

Binky

50voltphantom

That sound is normal from my experience with Shimano freewheels. They're just not that precise.

TejanoTrackie 

Although you can't beat a WI Eno for smooth, precise and quiet operation, there are some cheaper alternatives that are very good, such as the ACS Crossfire Pro, which costs about half as much as an Eno. I also have a Shimano MX30 on one of my cheaper bikes, and it sounds like it is falling apart when pedaling.

TejanoTrackie 

After I made my previous post, I decided to remove my 18T Shimano MX30 freewheel and replace it with an ACS Crossfire 20T regular model (not Pro) that I had on hand, whilst changing the chainring from 44T to 48T, so the gearing got lowered only slightly. No more clickity clack clickity clack clickity clack from the rear of the bike when pedaling.

seau grateau

Currently running an Excess freewheel, 16t 3/32. Feels solid, no unwanted, clicks, and only cost 20 clams.

TejanoTrackie 

The ACS Crossfire costs about the same and has the same specs as the Excess Components. Makes me wonder if they're made by the same people. Regardless, they're both a big improvement over the Shimano MX30, and cost less. I assume you got your Excess from RG.

seau grateau

I did indeed. They might be of the same make -- I wouldn't know. Scrod could probably answer that question.

Scrodzilla

By looking at pics of the Crossfire and EC freewheels, it's easy to see they're not the same on the outside. The internals, however, I have no idea...

50voltphantom

Imma have to try one of those sometime, maybe on my next build.