Vibration / Grinding through frame

[gmac190]

When I lift the rear of the bike off the ground and pedal fast to let the rear wheel spin, there is a grinding / vibration through the whole frame and is reasonably noisy. I put my chin on the saddle and can feel it.

It's a new bike last Septemeber, hasn't been used through the winter as I didn't want to get the salt in the moving parts and has only done 450 miles. When I took it out the shed the free hub had stuck on, managed to free that and took the wheel to the LBS and the replaced the bearings as they had dried out!!

When I spin the wheel the cassette wobbles slightly which i don't think is normal.

Does anyone think that I will need a new freehub as well?

Thanks

 

[screenman]

What sort of bike?

 

[gmac190]

Sorry. It's a ribble sportive racing road bike.

 

[ushills]

Sound like the freehub lube has been washed out.

You can try lubricating the freehub with oil (engine oil or something heavy) look on parktools about this or goggle. A few drops is enough to lubricate the tines in the freehub.

They stick if they dry out and don't seem as well sealed on road bike compared to MTB's, need to be very careful when washing the cassette and the chain.

 

[gmac190]

thanks ushills, i always clean my bike but I, up till now, have cleaned the cassette while its on the freehub. Think I'll stop that practice. I'll check out the oil and give it a try.

Cheers

 

[Canrider]

Cassette wobbling--is it possible that the axle is very slightly bent? I'm sure I've seen a old (pre-Freehub) set of cogs doing that and ISTR a bent axle was the culprit. A quick Google suggests that that or a slightly loose freehub may be the culprit. Do please check that at greater length than I have on the Internets!

 

[gmac190]

i don't see how the axle could be bent, it was fine before it went in to hibernation for the winter! I've just taken the cassette off and the freehub sounds ok and there is no resistance however when I spin the wheel holding the axle, the bearings (which are loose ball bearings) are still grinding slightly and it does not run smooth as it should. I now recall the LBS saying this when I picked up the wheel and something about the hub might be needing replaced.

TBH I don't know enough about the workings of hubs etc to take it to the next step.

 

[andrew_s]

Take take the chain off and try spinning the wheel again.
If the grinding noise stops, it's coming from the freehub, if it doesn't it's from the wheel bearings.

I'd bet on the wheel bearings myself. The wheel bearings probably never had much grease, and if they got a bit damp the hub cups would have got pitted.
The bearings aren't always properly greased on a new hub - I always open up a new hub and check/regrease, having been caught by a dry hub before.

 

[gmac190]

well the problem has been solved. I took the wheel to www.wheelcraft.net who instantly told me what was wrong. Despite my LBS carrying out a hub service about 2 weeks ago they didn't notice that the cones were pitted and rough and there was a spot of rust. Won't be going back to my LBS anymore. All fixed now and running smooth.

Thanks for all the replies.

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

well the problem has been solved. I took the wheel to www.wheelcraft.net who instantly told me what was wrong. Despite my LBS carrying out a hub service about 2 weeks ago they didn't notice that the cones were pitted and rough and there was a spot of rust. Won't be going back to my LBS anymore. All fixed now and running smooth.

Thanks for all the replies.

That is appalling. Probably worth learning how to DIY. A couple of cone (thin) spanners in correct size (usually between 15mm to 18mm) are the only tools required.

 

[gmac190]

That is appalling. Probably worth learning how to DIY. A couple of cone (thin) spanners in correct size (usually between 15mm to 18mm) are the only tools required.

tell me about it, I do dabble in most things with the bike but I haven't serviced a hub as yet. On-wards and upwards eh.