Pedals, crank, chain & cassette turn, but no drive...

[Maz]

Hello,

On the way back from work today I stopped at some red lights. I was getting my feet ready for the lights to go green, but when I applied pressure to the right pedal, there was no drive at all, i.e. the pedal turned round freely, no resistance.

The lights turned green and I was left floundering trying to get to the side of the road because I couldnt ride the bike.

I got on to the pavement and had a look...the pedals turned round, so did the crank, so did the chain, so did the cassette, but no drive.

I moved up to the next gear and it started working OK again. I stayed in that gear from then on until I got home.

When I got home, I went through the range of gears and they were all working as they should be!

Anyone know what might be going wrong? My worry is that this problem will happen again and maybe get worse.

Any advice please? Thanks.

 

[gbb]

Guaranteed to be your freehub.
They can get sticky and then free up, problem never to return as happened to my first Bianchi when it was quite new....but equally, it might be on the way out.

 

[ianrauk]

yup, sounds like the pawls in the freehub are sticking open.

 

[Maz]

Thanks, chaps. So how do I fix it?

 

[ianrauk]

It's a tough old job if you are not sure how to do it and it also depends on what freehub you have.
The thing is, it rarely fixes itself.
One of the reasons I like Easton wheels is that the freehub pawls are easy accessible and serviceable.




Here's some info from Park Tools.

 

[gbb]

Depends on the wheelset i guess Maz,,,ive only ever had the freehub off my Fulcrums, easy enough to get them off those wheels. Sorry, cant help you specifically

 

[Maz]

Depends on the wheelset i guess Maz,,,ive only ever had the freehub off my Fulcrums, easy enough to get them off those wheels. Sorry, cant help you specifically

What is a wheelset?

My bike is an Allez Elite. Spec here:
http://www.evanscycl...d-bike-ec001387


Here is a link to a picture of my (original, never changed) freehub. What type of freehub is it?
http://www.cyclechat...ost__p__1614725

 

[Andy_R]

surely if it was the freehub, then it would happen in all gears? (all the sprockets slide onto a common hub) so it must be a problem with the sprocket being used as the op has said that moving into a different gear worked. or am i just being stoopid.

 

[Mark_Robson]

surely if it was the freehub, then it would happen in all gears? (all the sprockets slide onto a common hub) so it must be a problem with the sprocket being used as the op has said that moving into a different gear worked. or am i just being stoopid.

Your not being stupid but your over analysing the problem. Changing gear is a red heron. The problem is with the hub, not the sprocket. If you ever take a cassette off a hub you will see that it sits on splines.

 

[mcshroom]

What is a wheelset?

Basically it's what front and back wheel you have. In this case you want to know what back wheel you have

surely if it was the freehub, then it would happen in all gears? (all the sprockets slide onto a common hub) so it must be a problem with the sprocket being used as the op has said that moving into a different gear worked. or am i just being stoopid.

I'd suggest that the clunking around changing gear may have sprung the pawls back out

 

[Andy_R]

Your not being stupid but your over analysing the problem. Changing gear is a red heron. The problem is with the hub, not the sprocket. If you ever take a cassette off a hub you will see that it sits on splines.

Basically it's what front and back wheel you have. In this case you want to know what back wheel you have




I'd suggest that the clunking around changing gear may have sprung the pawls back out

Ah gotcha...similar to kicking the telly when it doesn't want to come on.......a bit of shock therapy and it does what its supposed to

 

[Cubist]

Ah gotcha...similar to kicking the telly when it doesn't want to come on.......a bit of shock therapy and it does what its supposed to

Yep, that's the fella, the movement of the gear change has knocked the sticky pawl back into place.

 

[Globalti]

Depending on the freehub it should be possible to remove it with a big Allen key down the hole. Take it to a bike shop and buy a new one.

 

[gbb]

Cant speak for your wheels maz, but depending on the design, it might be simple enough IF the design is similar to the Fulcrums.
IIRC, i didnt need that allen key Globals talking about (although many designs you DO need to undo the hidden allen bolt). I (IIRC) just undid the locknut at the top of the freehub in your first picture in the link to your other post, that allowed the whole freehub to slide out. On the Fulcrums, the ratchet pawls are exposed so you can clean and lube them. It was really easy.
Even if you do need that allen key Globals talking about, you still may find the designs similar and the pawls are get'at'able.
I'm speaking for me...i'll always have a go, i'd undo that top nut, see if the freehub slides out and then see if anythings exposed so you can try.

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

Depending on the freehub it should be possible to remove it with a big Allen key down the hole. Take it to a bike shop and buy a new one.

+1. Usually it needs a 10mm one and you need to stick the long side in, and which most people don't have in their tool box - however, lately nearly every self-respecting pound shop sells a full set including just such a thing!