On my multi-speed bike, the freewheel stopped grabbing the wheel, so now the... - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

fungusbrains1 · 06-20-2007, 03:19 PM

...pedals spin freely. Easy to fix? Seems like something under the hub would have come apart, but I can't find the solution by internet search.

scott.braden · 06-20-2007, 03:19 PM

Maybe.

They're called "pawls" and depending on the age/ model / condition of the freewheel might not be worth fixing.

What happens on old ones is they get gummed up and the pawl springs don't work anymore.

Before you replace it, try cleaning it thoroughly with a good strong solvent. It works best if you remove the freewheel from the hub and soak it.

Good luck
Scott