trainchaser

On my daily commute I pass over several rail crossings, always heading down hill so usually going fast so the rear wheel takes a bit if a pounding The bike started making a rumbling noise that I could also feel, I thought it might be the bottom bracket so took it in to the Trek store. The tech guy listened to it and said it sounds more like the freewheel has a problem, that the BB seems fine. So, what to do next. They can replace the freewheel but recommend moving up to a freehub like what's on all the other FX models above the FX-1. Can't trade it in on an FX-2 or 3 because there aren't any available now. So, like I said, what to do? And what is involved in the switch? The guy already said it will require a new wheel, how much will that cost?

cxwrench

You'd need 1 of the following things. Either:
1) A cassette wheel and a 7 speed cassette.
2) A cassette wheel and an 8 speed cassette/shifter/chain.
3) A cassette wheel and a 9 speed cassette/shifter/chain.
You could go 10 or 11 speed as well.

Cost? Probably somewhere around $200-300 including labor.

rccardr 

Freewheels are cheap- like under $50, easy.
Wheels are more expensive- like over $100, easy, plus the cassette which will be about the same cost as a freewheel.
Even in Canada.
Assuming your tech guy is correct, the common sense thing to do is replace the freewheel.

Bill Kapaun

IF the hub itself is trashed, you may as well "upgrade" to a Free Hub style.
Since you'll only find 8 speed & above FH's, a 4.5mm spacer needs to be added to use the 7 speed cassette.
IF you want to upgrade, this could be a more convenient time to go to 9 speed. Ypu'd need 9 speed shifter, chain & cassette.

Crankycrank

I think it really needs to be determined what the problem is. The shop mechanic is just offering an educated guess. Could be wheel bearings, a broken axle, or ?? Older freewheel hubs, especially lower range types have a higher rate of breaking axels due to their design. Since you like to cross RR tracks at high speed I would check that first. If you can remove the wheel yourself a broken axle will be obvious and you can at least rule that out if it's OK and go from there.

oldbobcat

An FX-quality freewheel costs about $35. What appears to have happened is a broken axle in the hub. That usually happens because the drive-side locknut loosens, causing the drive-side cone to loosen, causing the axle to get bent and the ball bearings to create their own race into the axle instead rolling around the cone. That eventually saws the axle in two, but the quick-release skewer holds the hub together until you hit a good bump like a railroad track. I know because I've fixed dozens of these hubs. I remove the wheel, pull off the skewer, and two halves of the guts of a hub fall out onto the bench. This is preventable by a mechanic who makes sure the locknuts are TIGHT, plus annual maintenance that includes checking and adjustment of hub bearings.

A cassette hub is inherently stronger than a freewheel hub, mainly because the drive side bearing supports the cassette body. So upgrading the wheel is feasible, because both use 130 mm axles. You'll have to buy an 8-speed cassette, but your 7-speed shifter will allow you to only use 7, until you replace the shifter. So figure $45-60 US for a hub overhaul, or $100-130 for a replacement wheel plus cassette. Your priorities, your call.

alcjphil

I agree that a broken axle woud be far more likely than a broken freewheel. The freewheel does not support the weight of your bike when you bash over the railroad track, the axle does. Broken axles are fairly common on bikes equipped with 7 speed freewheels.

MRT2

It depends on available funds, but if the freewheel is trashed, I would upgrade to a freehub and replace the wheel. If funds allow, upgrade from 7 speed shifter to 8, 9, or even 10 speed.
This issue, of Trek selling new bikes with Freewheels in 2020 and 2021 is a pet peeve of mine because IMO, there is no good reason other than cost cutting to put a freewheel on a new Trek retailing for $500. At most, upgrading to a freehub and 8 speed would add a couple of bucks to the retail price of the bike, but would save consumers like OP big money down the road. Now, some people don't ride over railroad tracks, but some do.

trainchaser

Hi everybody, and thanks for all the input First of all, the railroad tracks are at a crossing, I'm not just blasting over rails. The guys at The Trek Store said they took a good look at things and they repacked the bearings in the hub and I should be good until they can locate a new wheel, freehub, cassette and may also require new shifters to match the new cassette. They're going to let me know pricing tomorrow. So I will actually end up having a FX-! with FX-2 drivetrain...funny seeing I originally wanted an FX-2.

trainchaser

So my problems are going to be taken care of this Saturday at The Trek Store - the trashed freewheel is going into the trash bin.
As I mentioned, there was a problem with the freewheel hub on my FX1 so they are installing a new wheel with freehub and a new rear 7 speed cassette, no need to change the shifters. The only thing, small thing, is the rear wheel has black spokes and the front has silver...
A straight forward install and I'm good to go, price including labor is $200, I'm a happy camper...