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grease your freewheel?

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Fast Freddy

· The Top Cap Guy
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Discussion starter · #1 ·
ok, ok, ok.... I know I've been around here a long time and its almost embarassing for me to ask... but I'm building my first set of wheels for myself that will use a freewheel instead of splined cogs for my singlespeed. Do I use antiseeze or just plain Park grease on the threads on a freewheel body? So that it doesn't get stuck on.... I remember reading posts about people with some White Ind freewheels being very hard to remove... I just want to do everything I can before I get it stuck on there myself.

Thanks
FF
 
#2 ·
Fast Freddy said:
ok, ok, ok.... I know I've been around here a long time and its almost embarassing for me to ask... but I'm building my first set of wheels for myself that will use a freewheel instead of splined cogs for my singlespeed. Do I use antiseeze or just plain Park grease on the threads on a freewheel body? So that it doesn't get stuck on.... I remember reading posts about people with some White Ind freewheels being very hard to remove... I just want to do everything I can before I get it stuck on there myself.

Thanks
FF
Click to expand...
I've had success with ordinary grease. Seizing has never been a problem, but uber tightness has!
 
#3 ·
Greasing

Fast Freddy said:
ok, ok, ok.... I know I've been around here a long time and its almost embarassing for me to ask... but I'm building my first set of wheels for myself that will use a freewheel instead of splined cogs for my singlespeed. Do I use antiseeze or just plain Park grease on the threads on a freewheel body? So that it doesn't get stuck on.... I remember reading posts about people with some White Ind freewheels being very hard to remove... I just want to do everything I can before I get it stuck on there myself.

Thanks
FF
Click to expand...
Hey FF...you mean, like taking apart a White Ind freewheel and greasing it? Don't. It will loosen overtime, plus its already made to last for a loooong time.
Or if you're talking about the threads on the hub/freewheel, I use any topical grease, like Park, Finish Line, Phil Wood.
 
#5 ·
ernesto_from_Wisconsin said:
you mean, like taking apart a White Ind freewheel and greasing it? Don't.
Click to expand...
actually, those things are pretty bad when it comes to contamination. i know a guy with one that has to clean and re-grease his several times a winter. every now and then it freezes solid and has to be broken free. not a very good product.
 
#6 ·
really?

pvd said:
actually, those things are pretty bad when it comes to contamination. i know a guy with one that has to clean and re-grease his several times a winter. every now and then it freezes solid and has to be broken free. not a very good product.
Click to expand...
that's odd. they are sealed. he probably took it apart. I've had the same ones for three years now and I've never had a problem with them.
 
#7 ·
pvd said:
actually, those things are pretty bad when it comes to contamination. i know a guy with one that has to clean and re-grease his several times a winter. every now and then it freezes solid and has to be broken free. not a very good product.
Click to expand...
Not my experience at all! The WI ENO FW is very well sealed. I took one of mine apart after 2 wet mucky Oregon winters and the ratchet/pawls were clean - totally clean. No grit, no gunk, nothing. An ACS FW has to be flushed and oiled once a week in the same winter conditions.

I did repack the bearing after 2-3 years (spun even smoother after).

I use oil in the ratchet, grease in the bearing and antiseize on the threads.
 
#8 ·
Fast Freddy said:
ok, ok, ok.... I know I've been around here a long time and its almost embarassing for me to ask... but I'm building my first set of wheels for myself that will use a freewheel instead of splined cogs for my singlespeed. Do I use antiseeze or just plain Park grease on the threads on a freewheel body? So that it doesn't get stuck on.... I remember reading posts about people with some White Ind freewheels being very hard to remove... I just want to do everything I can before I get it stuck on there myself.

Thanks
FF
Click to expand...
Antiseize
 
Discussion starter · #9 ·
Got it - I was talking about the hub threads that the freewheel go on... I've got a new freewheel on order with Bikeman so as soon as its here I'm in business. Figured I'd get a White Ind and just be done with it - I've heard to many horror stories and weird noises out of other brands.

Thanks!
FF
 
#11 ·
I use Phil Wood grease on the hub/freewheel threads.

I have three W.I. freewheels on various bikes and they are excellent. I will bet you if your friend has W.I. freewheels that are so contaminated that the are frozen, he's got other mechanical issues with that same bike. I have abused and neglected my W.I. freewheels for three years and they are still smooth and rock-solid.
 
#12 ·
Grease the threads. I have never used antisieze there but grease has never failed me. I haven't tried the WI eno yet, but I inject a small amount into the loose bearings of the ACS. I think it works better than oil and seems to make them last longer and run a little quieter. Don't pack a ton in them though it will muck up the pawls.
 
#15 ·
Fast Freddy said:
Got it - I was talking about the hub threads that the freewheel go on... I've got a new freewheel on order with Bikeman so as soon as its here I'm in business. Figured I'd get a White Ind and just be done with it - I've heard to many horror stories and weird noises out of other brands.

Thanks!
FF
Click to expand...
Freddy, It probably is not a concern as I am betting that you will have some other high end setup long before you have to remove it or perform any maintenance on it.
 
Discussion starter · #16 ·
Fett said:
Freddy, It probably is not a concern as I am betting that you will have some other high end setup long before you have to remove it or perform any maintenance on it.
Click to expand...
Yeah, yeah, yeah.... you're just hoping that I get bored with it in the beginning of Feb so you can pick it up cheap at the Indy swap meet...lol

I'm thinking this won't happen this time - I just built up my super sexy wheels for this freewheel... the Surly Coffee colored disc hubs on Salsa Delgado disc rims for my Haro Mary... the color of the hubs should nearly match the frame. I had an axle to swap out the front to q/r already - the rear axle is supposed to be here either Friday or Monday... so hopefully your see a happy guy at Indy with minimal parts for sale...

FF
 
#19 ·
shiggy said:
No, it says you are even luckier.
Click to expand...
I will concede that in most cases grease or anti-seize is preferred, but I don't use either on freewheels or pedals. Never had a problem. Only threads I treat with something are euro bottom brackets, spokes, and the 3-bolts on my Profile cranks.
 
#20 ·
pvd said:
actually, those things are pretty bad when it comes to contamination. i know a guy with one that has to clean and re-grease his several times a winter. every now and then it freezes solid and has to be broken free. not a very good product.
Click to expand...
A sample size of 1 and you are calling it a bad product? I challenge you to find a better freewheel. Let us all know what brand it is when you do.

I've got two that are a few years old and I've put them through terrible conditions and have no complaints. I know a dozen local riders who can say the same.
 
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ernesto_from_Wisconsin
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