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Freewheel lubricant

Old 07-21-21, 02:48 PM
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robertj298 
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Freewheel lubricant

On my 85 Univega Gran Turismo I notice a slight amount of play and clunk after I am coasting and start to pedal again.
When I regreased the bottom bracket I sprayed the freewheel with WD40 to clean it out and after drying it added some
chain lubricant. Is there something else I should ues on it? Thanks
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Old 07-21-21, 02:55 PM
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Old 07-21-21, 03:38 PM
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Iride01 
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Just make sure the wheel bearings are greased.

If you don't coast much, then nothing in the freewheel really needs lube. Other than some very light something or other for corrosion protection.
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Old 07-21-21, 04:50 PM
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I use Phil’s Tenacious Oil on freewheel bodies and cassette freehub bodies.

I use bike grease on the bearings.

John
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Old 07-21-21, 06:46 PM
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SurferRosa
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Originally Posted by robertj298
I sprayed the freewheel with WD40 to clean it out and after drying it added some
chain lubricant. Is there something else I should ues on it?
​​​​​​Don't use wd40 in your freewheel. They're pretty easy to overhaul actually. Use a hammer and punch to remove the lockring. Use the same thick grease you used for your bb.
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Old 07-21-21, 06:58 PM
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I used 30wt oil on the keys and springs and then packed the bearings with grease just to hold them in place while reassembling. Like mentioned earlier, the only time there's movement inside a freewheel is when you're coasting and it's engaging.
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Old 07-21-21, 09:18 PM
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Phil Wood Tenacious Oil is the most correct answer to your question. Best to take the freewheel off the bike, so you can get it really clean, but also works with it still on the hub.

Slowly drip the Tenaciousness into the gap between the part that moves and the part that don't while spinning the freewheel. If freewheel is off the hub, do both sides. You'll feel when the oil gets drawn down into where it goes. When it stops feeling better, wipe off the excess and put the freewheel back on. Grease the hub threads before doing the last bit. The sanity you save may be your own.

Making this a part of your winter screwing-around-with-the-bike routine is wise.

--Shannon
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