Finally got around to stripping down the rear wheel that gave up in December. Basically the issue was that for a few weeks there had been a bit of play in the bearing that were over due a strip out and service. Then, during the mini ice age I had the (shimano) freewheel unit quit, one night at -8°C it refused to engage. I poured a cup of boiling water over it and it came back to life, for about 2 miles of my 9 mile commute. I didn't have enough pee to get it going again.
I expected that it would be worn out and need servicing or replacing, though this is only 12 months old and about 5'500 miles and IMX they're usually good for 15-20k.
I am hoping to get myself a Hope Hub or Superstar hub of some description after being impressed with the front hub. So wasn't planning on spending much more than £3 on a bag of bearings.
Having stripped it off the wheel it feels nice and smooth if a bit gummy like its full of thick grease that might get really thick in the cold and stop it operating. The seals all look good and unlike other knackered units it hasn't got any rock or rusty water dripping out. I haven't got a prong tool to open up the freewheel and I couldn't shift it with a drift. I've now cleaned up the bearings, cups and axles and they all look in much better condition than I expected. I found two broken spokes, one I knew about (for 12 months) and one I didnt know about, so will need to source replacement spokes for those.
While I wait I'm a bit undecided as to what to do with the freewheel body. I according to youtube it should have about 50 small ball bearings that should run in a bed of grease. So I am loathed to just soak it in carb cleaner to wash some of the grease out then in oil to relube it. Buying a tool to open it up and 50 new bearings will likely be approaching the £20 replacement cost. Equally walking 7 miles home at minus 8 at 2 am wasn't much fun.... But then the wheel hub is in much better condition than I expected, better than I remembered from the last time i had it to bits. So might be able to kick the replacement 12 months down the road... by spending a total of £30 on bearings, spokes and freewheel body. Its hard work being tight.
Edit: - Had a stiff Drink and ordered 2x sets of brake pads, another can of brake cleaner, 2x gear cables, a cable guide and a freewheel body (£19.40). I'm going to try the grumpy LBS for a couple of spokes tomorrow but failing that I have found an
ebay seller selling them in pairs.
Just had a play with the old body in the parts tray, it now it has been sat in the warm kitchen for a few hours. Seems much freer, so I cant help but wonder if the issue is the grease and the cold temps, I havent had it apart so any grease inside is the bog standard - I wonder if shimano spec temperatures of if this is an issue for people riding in cold climates? It is a WH-MT15-R Freehub body which i think is a bit oddball and budget so that probably wont help, but surely people cant be stopping to pee on the freehub body every 2 miles!
they suggested pulling the headset apart to check for serial number which i did as there are no brand marking .
