My road bike makes a constant clicking sound when the rear wheel rotates without me pedaling. After removing the cassette on my bike I found out that the clicking is from the hub spinning. Is this normal? Should I buy a new hub to get rid of that sound?
2007-12-10 05:08:44 · 12 answers · asked by Stacy W 1 in Sports ➔ Cycling
Is it a constant fast sound as your hub goes round or every second or fraction of a second? If it's a constant fast sound, that wasn't there before take your wheel apart if you know how and give it a clean with methelated spirits, clean between the blocks and clean out the bearings. Then regrease with some LM grease and reoil the blocks, this did it for me.
If it's the repetitious click every second or so it's probably a lose spoke, when pressure goes on it it causes it to move slightly against the spoke next to it and cause a click. If you know how to change a spoke then go ahead.
If you aren't mechanically minded bring the bike to a bike shop. If you think the shop staff might try and rip you off, you shouldn't be paying more than 15 or 20 quid for the first problem and no more than a tenner for the second one. Let them know that you've isolated the cause so that they can't go changing your chain or something.
2007-12-10 10:29:06 · answer #1 · answered by garion b 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have to assume you aren't just talking about the freehub/freewheel body doing it's normal thing. With the chain off the cogs, the wheel should rotate silently without the ratcheting....if it still ratchets, then the body may be sticking slightly. A little lube or lube-grease mixture and/or flushing should fix that.
If it's not the normal stuff, then chances are your hubs need adjustment or service/replacement parts. A loose adjustment can cause noise. With either sealed cartridge or loose bearings, they can make a little noise if the grease has been diluted/dried through water or age. Both kinds can be re-lubed. If you have loose bearings, it's possible that the cone or race is pitted and will need replacement. If you have the tools, you can check things yourself or take it into a shop to have them open it up and see what's up. www.parktool.com has great instructions and photos to help you out if you want to tackle it yourself.
You didn't say if you tested this while sitting on the bike or not, but if it makes the clicking noise with your body weight, it could also be a loose spoke making the clicking noise or a dirty/rusty nipple. If the wheel is true and tight, then you're probably correct that it's in the hub somewhere.
2007-12-10 19:34:34 · answer #2 · answered by Ride!Urban 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Years ago the hub and cassette assembly (or freewheel) used to be separate. The cassette is the component the gears or 'sprockets' sit on. Inside the cassette assembly are housed the bearings and pals that allow the bicycle to be driven forward when pedaling and to 'coast' when not (thus the name freewheel). The clicking or ratcheting sound you hear are the pals clacking against the latches while coasting. The whole cassette and assembly would then be threaded onto the hub.
Now days the internal cassette 'guts' (bearings and pals) are incorporated into the hub assembly. That is why you can still hear to hub clicking even though there may not be any gears on it.
2007-12-10 05:31:07 · answer #3 · answered by Zarathustra 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
If it's a new bike then it's no problem. some hubs are pretty loud. But if it's something that just started then I would recomend having the hub serviced.
2007-12-10 06:10:50 · answer #4 · answered by Roberto 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It might be some dust that flowed into the hub. also grab the pedal and move it from side to side. If it moves a lot, the BB might need to e replaced. this is very likely the source of the sound.
2016-04-08 06:01:07 · answer #5 · answered by Tara 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jimbo had it right. It the pawls inside the hub which act as a ratchet mechanism to allow you to freewheel as needed or apply power as necessary.
2007-12-10 05:17:02 · answer #6 · answered by Grendel 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Stacy, haven't you ever noticed that clicking sound when around bicycles? Bikes and that sound are ubiquitous.
2007-12-10 07:09:12 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Thats 100% normal. its just a alert kind of thing, most bikes do it but u can buy hubs with out it. It does it when you pedel backwards also
2007-12-10 05:11:14 · answer #8 · answered by ronnie s 2 · 1⤊ 3⤋
It might just be the bearings in the hub which are replaceable
2007-12-10 05:11:35 · answer #9 · answered by deetsay00 1 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Completely normal. Jimbo said it perfectly.
2007-12-10 07:57:48 · answer #10 · answered by CL44TML 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋