Creative bike mechanics (freehub)

[Zviedrs]

Just wow, this calls for the bicycle repair photo of the month prize!
As this bike rider himself explained, his friend's freehub turned fixie during the ride, and they used such creative tool to get the 16mm nut out of the hub.

   

[Painkiller]

Mercy, ha

[CharleyFarley]

(08-04-2019, 07:39 AM)Zviedrs Wrote:  Just wow, this calls for the bicycle repair photo of the month prize!
As this bike rider himself explained, his friend's freehub turned fixie during the ride, and they used such creative tool to get the 16mm nut out of the hub.

I recently replaced the freehub on my Specialized Fatboy. It required a 12mm hex wrench, and hardware stores don't sell anything bigger than 10mm, so I had to order it, online.

Trying to turn the wrench with a piece of pipe, didn't work. Probably needed a longer pipe but I was afraid of doing damage to something. So I put the wrench in a vise and lowered the wheel onto it. Had to jerk it counterclockwise a few times until it snapped free. I don't know why they tighten the nut so much. When I put it back I tightened it but not so hard that it was almost impossible to undo. After tightening it, I was able to loosen it again, with the aid of the short piece of pipe. Ridden it another 1,000 miles since then, and no problems.

My freehub hadn't turned fixie but while wheeling the bike out, one morning, I became aware that the pedals were turning. I expect that when pushing the bike backward, but not when pushing it forward. I had to think about it because I never noticed the pedals turning, before, and I ride it every morning.

I removed the freehub and it seemed fine. Screwing it back onto the hub, and it was a little stiff if I tightened the lock ring properly. By loosening the lock ring so that it was barely holding, the freehub turned freely. Apparently over 5,000 miles had put a bit of wear on it. Got the new freehub, tightened it properly, and the pedals no longer turn while pushing the bike forward.

I'm thinking I might have suffered a fixie, too, before long.