Shimano freehub clunk - backlash?

I have a new rear wheel with an NOS Shimano 8 speed 105 hub. There's a lot
of backlash clunking when I'm pedaling even on the flats. It's really
disconcerting when I'm out of the saddle honking up a hill.

It feels like one of the pawls is sticking. It freewheels fine and I
thought it would go away with use but it's getting worse.

All of the other components are new or NOS and work fine.

I did a search on the subject and all of the messages on this topic are 10
to 12 years old. Is this a problem that could be fixed with a new freehub
or could it just be that the lube has dried up? The grease in the wheel
bearings looks soft and fresh.

Any suggestions?

Chas.

"Ryan Cousineau" wrote in message
]...
In article ,
"* * Chas" wrote:

I have a new rear wheel with an NOS Shimano 8 speed 105 hub. There's a
lot
of backlash clunking when I'm pedaling even on the flats. It's really
disconcerting when I'm out of the saddle honking up a hill.

It feels like one of the pawls is sticking. It freewheels fine and I
thought it would go away with use but it's getting worse.

All of the other components are new or NOS and work fine.

I did a search on the subject and all of the messages on this topic
are 10
to 12 years old. Is this a problem that could be fixed with a new
freehub
or could it just be that the lube has dried up? The grease in the
wheel
bearings looks soft and fresh.

Any suggestions?

Chas.

I think the decade-old answers are still right. Has the hub been
greased? The pawls should not, in general, be greased. Oil can be run
into the freehub pawls fairly easily from the outside.

A little drop'll do ya, and as usual, I believe sheldonbrown.com will
explain all.

--
Ryan Cousineau http://www.wiredcola.com/


It's an NOS hub with less than 100 miles on it. It's a black 105 hub. I'm
not sure how old it is. I had to partially disassemble the rear axle
because the cone was loose on the cassette side. The grease in the
bearings was soft and clean. I checked out the freehub and it felt good
too.

The seals on the freehub side of the axle are a real PIA to reassemble
properly that's why I was wondering if there was maybe this was a common
problem and there was some other solution such as a newer style freehub or
seal set etc.

Chas.

On Jul 5, 3:17*pm, "* * Chas" wrote:
"Ryan Cousineau" wrote in message

]...



In article ,
*"* * Chas" wrote:

I have a new rear wheel with an NOS Shimano 8 speed 105 hub. There's a
lot
of backlash clunking when I'm pedaling even on the flats. It's really
disconcerting when I'm out of the saddle honking up a hill.

It feels like one of the pawls is sticking. It freewheels fine and I
thought it would go away with use but it's getting worse.

All of the other components are new or NOS and work fine.

I did a search on the subject and all of the messages on this topic
are 10
to 12 years old. Is this a problem that could be fixed with a new
freehub
or could it just be that the lube has dried up? The grease in the
wheel
bearings looks soft and fresh.

Any suggestions?

Chas.

I think the decade-old answers are still right. Has the hub been
greased? The pawls should not, in general, be greased. Oil can be run
into the freehub pawls fairly easily from the outside.

A little drop'll do ya, and as usual, I believe sheldonbrown.com will
explain all.

--
Ryan Cousineau /

It's an NOS hub with less than 100 miles on it. It's a black 105 hub. I'm
not sure how old it is. I had to partially disassemble the rear axle
because the cone was loose on the cassette side. The grease in the
bearings was soft and clean. I checked out the freehub and it felt good
too.

The seals on the freehub side of the axle are a real PIA to reassemble
properly that's why I was wondering if there was maybe this was a common
problem and there was some other solution such as a newer style freehub or
seal set etc.


Ryan already gave you the answer. It's a common
problem with freehubs with old dried-up lubricant,
or sticky grease. It doesn't have much to do with
the type of freehub. Just drip some oil in there. If
you're feeling ambitious, blast some WD-40 into the
freehub to loosen up the dried lube, spin the freehub
to work it around, then drip some oil in and spin some
more. This has always worked for me on sticky
freewheels/hubs. The capillary action when you rotate
the two parts of the freewheel against each other
draws the oil in. If you're worried about the seals,
remove the axle, remove the freehub from the hub,
and drip the oil in from the back.

Ben

wrote in message
...
On Jul 5, 3:17 pm, "* * Chas" wrote:
"Ryan Cousineau" wrote in message

]...



In article ,
"* * Chas" wrote:

I have a new rear wheel with an NOS Shimano 8 speed 105 hub. There's
a
lot
of backlash clunking when I'm pedaling even on the flats. It's
really
disconcerting when I'm out of the saddle honking up a hill.

It feels like one of the pawls is sticking. It freewheels fine and I
thought it would go away with use but it's getting worse.

All of the other components are new or NOS and work fine.

I did a search on the subject and all of the messages on this topic
are 10
to 12 years old. Is this a problem that could be fixed with a new
freehub
or could it just be that the lube has dried up? The grease in the
wheel
bearings looks soft and fresh.

Any suggestions?

Chas.

I think the decade-old answers are still right. Has the hub been
greased? The pawls should not, in general, be greased. Oil can be run
into the freehub pawls fairly easily from the outside.

A little drop'll do ya, and as usual, I believe sheldonbrown.com will
explain all.

--
Ryan Cousineau /

It's an NOS hub with less than 100 miles on it. It's a black 105 hub.
I'm
not sure how old it is. I had to partially disassemble the rear axle
because the cone was loose on the cassette side. The grease in the
bearings was soft and clean. I checked out the freehub and it felt good
too.

The seals on the freehub side of the axle are a real PIA to reassemble
properly that's why I was wondering if there was maybe this was a common
problem and there was some other solution such as a newer style freehub
or
seal set etc.


Ryan already gave you the answer. It's a common
problem with freehubs with old dried-up lubricant,
or sticky grease. It doesn't have much to do with
the type of freehub. Just drip some oil in there. If
you're feeling ambitious, blast some WD-40 into the
freehub to loosen up the dried lube, spin the freehub
to work it around, then drip some oil in and spin some
more. This has always worked for me on sticky
freewheels/hubs. The capillary action when you rotate
the two parts of the freewheel against each other
draws the oil in. If you're worried about the seals,
remove the axle, remove the freehub from the hub,
and drip the oil in from the back.

Ben

It's a defective freehub. Only 1 pawl catches most of the time.

Checked the date code, it's a 2006 vintage hub, grease and oil still
fresh. I removed the freehub and rear seal. Lots of oil in the freehub
bearings. I put some Phil oil in the back side since I had it open. No
change in the pawls.

Adjusting the cones on these hubs is a PIA!

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions.

Chas.

On Jul 5, 2:42*pm, "* * Chas" wrote:
I have a new rear wheel with an NOS Shimano 8 speed 105 hub. There's a lot
of backlash clunking when I'm pedaling even on the flats. It's really
disconcerting when I'm out of the saddle honking up a hill.

It feels like one of the pawls is sticking. It freewheels fine and I
thought it would go away with use but it's getting worse.

All of the other components are new or NOS and work fine.

I did a search on the subject and all of the messages on this topic are 10
to 12 years old. Is this a problem that could be fixed with a new freehub
or could it just be that the lube has dried up? The grease in the wheel
bearings looks soft and fresh.

Any suggestions?

Chas.

Take the freehub off, take the little rubber seal off the backside.
Flush with some sort of solvent. Let dry than oil(I use Mobil
One)..reinstall, lots of grease inside the hub around the bearing
balls and see if that helps.

"Qui si parla Campagnolo" wrote in message
...
On Jul 5, 2:42 pm, "* * Chas" wrote:
I have a new rear wheel with an NOS Shimano 8 speed 105 hub. There's a
lot
of backlash clunking when I'm pedaling even on the flats. It's really
disconcerting when I'm out of the saddle honking up a hill.

It feels like one of the pawls is sticking. It freewheels fine and I
thought it would go away with use but it's getting worse.

All of the other components are new or NOS and work fine.

I did a search on the subject and all of the messages on this topic are
10
to 12 years old. Is this a problem that could be fixed with a new
freehub
or could it just be that the lube has dried up? The grease in the wheel
bearings looks soft and fresh.

Any suggestions?

Chas.

Take the freehub off, take the little rubber seal off the backside.
Flush with some sort of solvent. Let dry than oil(I use Mobil
One)..reinstall, lots of grease inside the hub around the bearing
balls and see if that helps.

Thanks for the suggestions. It's a 2006 hub with less than 100 miles on
it. Factory oil and grease were fine when I took it apart. It worked great
for the first few ~20 mile rides then started acting up. At this point,
I'm going to replace it.

8 and 9 speed freehubs are same dimensions right? Shimano lists a lot of
different freehubs. Any suggestions on which one to look for? TIA

Chas.

* * Chas" wrote:
I have a new rear wheel with an NOS Shimano 8 speed 105 hub. There's a lot
of backlash clunking when I'm pedaling even on the flats. It's really
disconcerting when I'm out of the saddle honking up a hill.
It feels like one of the pawls is sticking. It freewheels fine and I
thought it would go away with use but it's getting worse.
All of the other components are new or NOS and work fine.
I did a search on the subject and all of the messages on this topic are 10
to 12 years old. Is this a problem that could be fixed with a new freehub
or could it just be that the lube has dried up? The grease in the wheel
bearings looks soft and fresh.
Any suggestions?

Qui si parla Campagnolo wrote:
Take the freehub off, take the little rubber seal off the backside.
Flush with some sort of solvent. Let dry than oil(I use Mobil
One)..reinstall, lots of grease inside the hub around the bearing
balls and see if that helps.

And if little steel shards fall out during that flush, get a new body. A
pawl has failed.
--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org/
Open every day since 1 April, 1971
** Posted from http://www.teranews.com **

"A Muzi" wrote in message
...
* * Chas" wrote:
I have a new rear wheel with an NOS Shimano 8 speed 105 hub. There's
a lot
of backlash clunking when I'm pedaling even on the flats. It's really
disconcerting when I'm out of the saddle honking up a hill.
It feels like one of the pawls is sticking. It freewheels fine and I
thought it would go away with use but it's getting worse.
All of the other components are new or NOS and work fine.
I did a search on the subject and all of the messages on this topic
are 10
to 12 years old. Is this a problem that could be fixed with a new
freehub
or could it just be that the lube has dried up? The grease in the
wheel
bearings looks soft and fresh.
Any suggestions?

Qui si parla Campagnolo wrote:
Take the freehub off, take the little rubber seal off the backside.
Flush with some sort of solvent. Let dry than oil(I use Mobil
One)..reinstall, lots of grease inside the hub around the bearing
balls and see if that helps.

And if little steel shards fall out during that flush, get a new body. A
pawl has failed.
--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org/
Open every day since 1 April, 1971
** Posted from http://www.teranews.com **

Andrew,

This is a 2006 Shimano FH-5501 hub with less than 100 miles on it.The
freehub worked great for the first 20-30 miles then it started acting up.

I removed the freehub and pulled the rear seal. The oil in the bearings
was fresh and clean. I put in several drops of Phil oil and reassembled
the hub. It started making intermittent grinding noises when free
wheeling. I think that one of the pawls is broken.

What kind of warrantee does Shimano have one these parts?

I'm going to replace the freehub. Do you have a part number for one of
these freehubs?

Years ago I had an old Regina freewheel lock up on a long down hill run.
It almost thew me off the bike. I also had the opposite happen with
several other old Regina freewheels, the pawls stopped working and I had
to push the bikes home.

A defective freewheel or freehub is not worth fooling around with.

Chas.