Sticky freehub

[Captain Stupido]

Attempted to service a Deore LX parallax freehub today. It came in a wheel on a car boot bike and a couple of times seized up (wheel still turning but cassette "fixed", not freewheeling) so I took it out of use. Both times it stuck I managed to free it up by jiggling about and it never happened while riding - rather when pulling the bike out of the shed, after a period of sitting.

Anyway today I took it apart. It has had a good extended soak in white spirits plus I "worked" it every now and then to get everything moving about inside. It was really grotty inside - freehub bearings were totally stuck in place. It's now drying out in the shed and after tea I might go reassemble it.

It's obviously much better now but occasionally while working it during the flush it briefly stuck... again freed up easily...but.

Anyone have any experience? I'm hoping that with a lube and some riding it'll sort itself out... but I don't want this to jam up on me or anyone else while riding...

 

[Captain Stupido]

Re:

Well... to save anyone the trouble of answering it seems pretty nice now it's back together cleaned up and with a good dose of Phil's tenacious oil. Quiet, smooth, and not a hint of a suggestion of it sticking. Hub bearings replaced/regreased too and all good...silky.

 

[davez26]

Re:

Glad it worked out.
I was going to say that part of that sticking of the bike is the ratchets working over the ramps, and I recall even new, they feel a bit sticky.
On the bike is different as the leverage exerted by the wheel is far more than you can exert by hand.
I've reworked similar freehubs in the same way you did with good results.
Don't look back, and just ride the sucker!

 

[hamster]

If the bike's chain had been lubed with GT85 or similar light oil spray then it works its way into the freehub body and dissolves out the grease. In time water gets in and rust causes the body to stick.
I used to get through a freehub a year until I changed the way I lubed chains (16 years ago). Sine then I've never had another fail.