Vcycleta

I have a 10 speed old bike I been working on. Took it for a spin yesterday and at times, mostly when going slow it makes this screaming noise at back wheel. It does this when I hit back breaks as well.
Any suggestions or thoughts?

cny-bikeman

It's BRAKES, and you need to provide more info.

First, what do you mean by "working on," specifically what did you work on just before the noise started occurring? Most likely what you did had something to do with the noise.

Secondly, does the noise have a pattern, like once per wheel revolution, or is it more random

Thirdly, what if anything have you checked so far, and how?

FBinNY 

As CNY points out detailed info is necessary, otherwise it's GIGO.

A key point is whether it makes this noise, when coasting only, when pedaling only, or both when pedaling and coasting. If while pedaling is it always or only when pedaling hard as uphill. Is it louder if you pedal harder, does it pulse or it is steady?

etc.

The more you tell us the better we can diagnose the cause. BTW- as CNY pointed out brakes are what you use to stop your bike, breaks are what may happen when the brakes don't work. Don't rely 100% on spell check for your writing.

Vcycleta

I removed wheel to remove rust and clean it up, when I got it it was awefully dirty. I did not touch the breaks, due to limited knowledge, this is my first old bike to learn to repair. I rode it just to test it out when i first got it and it didnt make the noise. I think wheel needs some truing. The noise does have a pattern, so it happens at a certain part of the wheel, except when i hit breaks it happens every time. I looked at the breaks and it seems that one side is closer to the wheel than the other. So how do I got about balancing them?
Thanks for your response

Vcycleta

it happens mostly when coasting not as much when pedaling.

FBinNY 

OK, from your description it sounds like the BRAKES are rubbing. The easiest way to confirm this is to remove both brake shoes and see if the noise disappears during a test ride in a parking lot, or some other controlled conditions. (not in traffic please).

If it is the brake, then it's either wheel position when you installed it, wheel alignment, or a brake adjustment, or some combination of the the three.

Do the elimination test as I suggested, and come back for more. BTW- if the noise continues, check that the tire isn't rubbing in the frame (look for scuffing on the side of the tire, or lift the bike and spin the wheel watching for rub).

mulveyr 

Let's just put a brake on all of the spelling comments before we have another breakdown in communication and someone gets to the breaking point.

I know, I'm a bad, bad man.

FBinNY 

Anyone want to bet on the spelling when the OP next posts?

mulveyr 

They're spelling is having an awful affect on people.

(* Ducks and runs *)

Vcycleta

I will check the "brakes" and let u know what happens.

FBinNY 

Unlike some others on BF, I've pretty much given up on expecting decent grammar, punctuation and syntax here. So I limit my pet peeves to the bicycle related cases, such as Breaks/brakes, forks (there's only one per bicycle), and as a courtesy to my friend at SKF bearings, when one means only the balls.

I do, however, wonder what they teach in English classes for 12 years.

ka0use

if it was a tandem i could tell you EXACTLY where the screaming is coming from!

mulveyr 

During the past year I've been interviewing candidates for IT positions. One of the recent applicants came from an Ivy League school and had a beautifully written cover letter along with a nicely formatted resume.

One of the tasks I always give to candidates who make it past the first cut is to take a poorly-written set of user requests and turn them into a paragraph or two of system requirements. Trivially easy, but it helps to weed out the people who had someone else write their resumes and letters.

Imagine my lack of surprise when the guy presented me with a document written almost entirely in text-speak. When I pointed out that it was ambiguous and self-contradictory in the few places where it wasn't entirely wrong he attempted to justify his work by claiming that it had the "benefit" of being concise and understandable to younger software engineers.

For what it's worth, our candidates from state schools and community colleges tended to have practical writing skills that were noticeably superior to the ones from private schools.

FBinNY 

it's gotten very bad. Some months ago, I was presented with a legal document that was barely literate, (and I don't mean in legalese). I wonder if judges downscore for poorly written motions.

sternforprez

Some of you guys are actually pretty funny.

OneGoodLeg

I'm not stunned. Common sense isn't on the curriculum at some schools.

As they say, "them's the brakes!".

oldbobcat

Are you coasting or pedaling when it starts?

sreten

Hi,

You have probably either moved the brakes if you tightened them,
or refitted the wheel slightly differently causing brake rub.

You don't have to take the pads off and ride it to check it, just lift
the back and spin the wheel forward, any problems will be obvious.

Check your wheel in pretty centered (I don't insist on UK spelling)
between the chainstays, if not walk it straight, if that is OK, look
at your brakes centering adjustment, it varies between types.

rgds, sreten.

Vcycleta

So took brakes off n no more noise! However not I got another prob. Brake pads screws pretty much felt apart while loosening. So at this point I ll just put new cables and find some brake pads. And by the way, thanks for making super conscious about my spelling!

Airburst

Wait, what? Surely it can't be that hard to put a couple of washers and a nut back on a threaded stud?

I'd still suggest replacement pads, but that's because the old rubber will have degraded with age, and new pads will likely give better braking.

Vcycleta

Lol

Airburst

At?

Vcycleta

At how anal and judgmental some of you seem

Airburst

Pfft, you ain't seen nothin' yet!

If it was me, I apologise, that wasn't my intention. What exactly fell apart when you took the brake pads off?

Vcycleta

It's ok! It s funny! The nut on the pad that was rubbing against wheel