SA S2C Noises

[zzpza]

I have put a couple of SA hubs (X-FDD and S2C) in a pair of generic 700C rims, in a 36h 3X pattern using plain gauge stainless spokes. This is the first set of wheels I've built!


New Wheels by zzpza, on Flickr

On the face of it, all seems to be working, but I have a couple of minor worries. Hopefully it's just as I have never ridden a kick back coaster brake bike before.

To begin with the coaster brake was vicious, but I put this down to me not being used to modulating brake pressure with the pedals. My main concern though is the noise when I'm using the coaster brake. Not all the time, but about 50% of the time it sounds like I have a metal object in a metal box that I am gently shaking. Very occasionally it sounded like someone had just tapped the frame with a spanner. This only happened two or three times.

The hub is new, I bought it about 18 months to 2 years ago. This is the first wheel it's been built into and I've only ridden it about 2 to 3km so far. Should I be worried? Is it just bedding in?

 

[GrumpyGregry]

My S2C makes noises, but not like you describe, sometimes refuses to shift, and I'd never describe the brake as anything other than dead and a bit pathetic.

I'm not really helping am I?

 

[lpretro1]

SA brake drums do make a noise when new and take some bedding in and then go nice and quiet. Have you allowed for this?

 

[bobg]

I'll check this tomorrow but I seem to recall that the bracket that secures the "arm" to the chainstay came slightly loose or slipped and it created the same noise. I lined the inside of the bracket with a bit of rubber offcut and tightened it a fraction and it's been fine since. The proper progresive pressure on the backpedal and getting it to stop with the pedal in the right position for setting off seems to be the major problem but its only practice. I find it's stopping power almost as good as a disk brake on my hybrid!

 

[zzpza]

Thanks for all the feedback guys. I have ridden the new wheelset a bit more and it's quietened down a lot. I think I was just jamming the brake on and generally not being used to riding with a coaster brake.

It was a lot of fun in the dusting of snow we had today (slick tyres too)!