v8powerage

My freehub started to skip, I took it apart and I've noticed that one pawl does most of the work and that this thin spring that holds pawls seems to be weak. Soaking in degreaser helped a little but without any grease the ball bearings are squeaking, should I pour light oil in it? Video of pawl operation

ThermionicScott 

It sure looks like the pawl spring isn't doing its job. I've heard of people bending theirs into a smaller circle, or replacing it with a stronger spring.

v8powerage

I wil try to bend it gently tomorrow, don't want to break it.

sd5782 

I purchased at a bike swap a Shimano freehub gear parts box. It is for the first generation 5 and 6 speeds. In it are perhaps 8-10 of those pawl springs, and maybe a dozen pawls. Not sure of interchangeably or size, but if you don’t get it resolved and the spring clip is the same, I could send you one. I can take some pics sometime.

v8powerage

Bending spring a little seems to have helped but we'll see how long it lasts.

ThermionicScott 

For your question about the squeaking, I would definitely clean and dry the internals really well, then apply a light coat of oil before you put it back together. More to prevent rust than anything else.

Mad Honk 

V8powerage,
Get to a well ventilated area, and take a can of 3M brake cleaner to the parts. let everything dry and then put the bearings in a clean cloth and wash then the same way. Only takes a minute for both items. The use a very small track of very light grease like white Li to hold the bearings in place around the inner hub. Do not fill the area completely leave about four bearings out. gently put the freehub body on so that the bearings will seat and stay in place. Put another light grease amount around the bearing surface and put the rest of the balls in so the grease holds them in place. Add a drop of oil on each pawl, put the spacers in and screw the inner race for the freehub back in place. I just did a single speed freewheel here this afternoon. Same procedure. Smiles, MH

v8powerage

I ended up replacing spring because it was very weak and kept skipping despite my bending, I used quick release spring, cut it and then filed a little so it fits in the pawls, it's not skipping at all that spring is very strong and much thicker, I don't know why did they use that thin feeble spring, I'm surprised that it lasted this long.

ThermionicScott 

Maybe the freewheel experts would know, but perhaps too strong of a spring would cause increased drag and wear when coasting? I bet your freehub is a little louder now.

v8powerage

Well it's not that strong that freehub body is worn out anyway you can see pawl marks on it. BTW I made video of how tight it is there's no play at all, I keep seeing new freehubs being wobbly and everyone says that's how it has to be because it's how they're made, this one is 30 year old and has at least 60 thousand miles as that's what I did on it and it wasn't new. I tightened it properly not overdone it, still moves freely when coasting and crank doesn't move.

v8powerage

Made video of how it sounds, it's not really louder than stock I think the skewer spring is perfect it's just the size of the groove 1mm, the original hair spring in fact made rut in the pawl because it's so thin. I made it same length so it encompasses entire hub like the original did.

Furyus

This is a kind offer. Thank you.