Tell me more ×
Bicycles Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for people who build and repair bicycles, people who train cycling, or commute on bicycles. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 1 down vote favorite

I have a very old bike. It used to work perfectly, but just recently it happened that when I pedal the rear wheel is not turning. Just for notice I pedal in the correct direction, brakes are not stopping the wheel... The chain is properly mounted, the casette or freehub (I don't really know how it is called, that thing on which the chain resides on the back wheel) is spinning while I pedal, but the wheel is not. So I guess the problem is somewhere in the back wheel.

So I thought that something is completely broken, but sometimes the wheel is turning when I pedal. Thus I don't know if it is totally broken or is maybe just clogged, or whatever.

Is there a way to just repair it without buying new things?

Thank you for your time and answers (p.s. sorry for my bad English)

share|improve this question
"Just for notice I pedal in the correct direction, brakes are not stopping the wheel..." I'm confused, does this bike have a coaster brake? Are you saying it's not working when you pedal backwards? – Neil Fein Jan 8 '12 at 17:17

2 Answers

up vote 3 down vote accepted

If this is a single-speed bike (no shifting mechanism) then the rear hub is probably seized up and needs to be overhauled or replaced. The hubs are designed to be overhauled by ten-year-olds (at least this ten-year-old did so, many decades ago) using ordinary tools, so they're not particularly complicated if you're mechanically inclined (or have a friend who is).

However, the hub may be so badly rusted that it needs replacing.

If the rear hub is a derailer-type hub with multiple sprockets then likely the "pawls" are broken or stuck as Zenbike suggests. These can sometimes be repaired, but replacement is a better option. Depending on the age of the unit it's either a "freewheel" unit where the pawls are in the sprocket "cluster" or a "freehub" unit where the pawls are in a attachment to the hub itself.

If this is something like an old 3-speed hub (with a thin shift chain entering one end of the axle then it could be just a problem with shifter adjustment, but if not then the bike is probably not worth repairing (unless you can find used parts).

share|improve this answer
It has 3x7 (or 3x6) shifts. But how come that sometimes it functions just normally. Is it possible that is is just rusty and dirty? If it is, how should I approach this. Open things up, oil everything, use WD? – Ben Jan 8 '12 at 14:37
1  
The freewheel/freehub is likely gummed up. Opening it up is a can of worms, but you might be able to work a little WD40 or (probably better) kerosene into it to free it up. – Daniel R Hicks Jan 8 '12 at 15:40
I'd be uncomfortable with fixing the freehub/freewheel that way if I didn't know what I was doing (which I wouldn't); what if it seized up again while riding? @DanielAHicks, is this even a valid concern or am I being paranoid? – Neil Fein Jan 8 '12 at 17:18
1  
@NeilFein -- But it isn't seized up, the pawls are just stuck. There is a danger that it might fail again in the same fashion, but I think the OP can understand that risk. There's virtually no danger that it could "seize up" and lock the rear wheel or turn it suddenly into a fixie (so long as he doesn't disassemble it). – Daniel R Hicks Jan 8 '12 at 20:48
Thanks for all the help. I poured some kerosene in and now it seems to work. Since then it has been working normally. – Ben Feb 22 '12 at 16:41
up vote 4 down vote

This sounds like either the freehub on the rear wheel, if you have the newer cassette style, or the freewheel, if you have the older thread on design, needs to be replaced.

These parts contain the pawls which drive the wheel forward when you pedal. If the pawls are broken, or simply not engaging the hub shell, you will pedal with no forward movement.

See this answer to the question What causes the noise that race wheels make when you are not pedaling?

share|improve this answer

Your Answer

 
discard

By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.