[Closed] Freehub freeze up........

Wee on it!

Alternatively take it off the hub, flush it out with WD40 or similar then soak it in thicker oil. This should remove any water which is freezing the gubbins inside.

Thanks. Yes I've tried peeing on it but within 3 minutes it had gone again......Is it really water inside it that causes this though or is it just that the grease inside gets thicker (more viscous I suppose) and prevents the pawls from moving?

I am very surprised that no-one else encounters this problem, do you leave the bike in the shed in this weather?

Having to go for a walk instead this morn, due to lack of a solution........ 🙁

you were offerd a solution - flush the freehub with oil to remove the water that is freezing up

I get it occasionally on the Deore hub on my rat/pub/commuter-bike. It sits outside 24/7 through winter in Sweden. It's usually just a matter of riding gently for a few minutes until it frees up, but I did the oil thing last winter and it seemed to make a difference. The problem came back this winter though.

Thanks. I was wondering what was going on with my rear hub last night.
I thought it was my rear mech. It was a real nuisance.
It was happening to my Chris Kings as well.

would've thought WD40 would strip out the grease as well 😕

[i]thought WD40 would strip out the grease as well[/i]

that's why you re-oil it afterwards.

I'm sorry but flushing it out does not work, I've done that to no avail; I then replaced it with a brand new one and had the same thing happen as soon as it got proper cold outside. I don't believe it's water in there that does it, I think it's the viscosity of the grease that causes it. So I'd really like a recommendation for a replacement freehub, I just don't think the Shimano are up to it in low temperatures.

take your wheel off and take it indoors at night 🙂

[url= http://www.totalindustrialsupply.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=293-L0189-098&Click=80157 ]Read about some Iditarod chap using this stuff[/url]

I brought the whole bike in last night and it lasted about 20 minutes this morning....... 🙁

The XT hub on one bike has never frozen up, even at -15 last year. The Deore hub on another bike was stuck at first but it was OK after a bit of pedalling. FSA/Mavic cartridge hubs on the other bikes have never stuck.

[i]I just don't think the Shimano are up to it in low temperatures. [/i]

did you read the first suggestion - you need to change the oil in the freehub to one with a lower freezing point.

[edit] and there are noa lternative freehubs - Shimano struggle to make freehubs that fit more than one model in their own range, no one else would have a chance.

neverraced - Member
I'm sorry but flushing it out does not work, I've done that to no avail...

That's why traditionally winter bikes were on fixed wheels.

It's also a reason not to wash your bike.

It's simple - as already said -
1. Get rid of any internal moisture (dismantle if necessary)
2. Use an appropriate low temp grease or oil.

If that doesn't work, go back to step 1.

(Assuming the problem isn't that your hub is mechanically stuffed)

Edit: you should probably totally degrease. Your grease may be an emulsion of grease and oil.

Agree about Hope hubs - I do a lot of subzero riding with no problems.

Thats why I said flush with WD40 (after removing the freehub from the hub and taking the rubber seal off the back) lots, turning the body as you spray, until the stuff coming out is clean, then get some engine oil in a small cup and sit the freehub in it, again turning it to get full penetration of the oil. Soak for an hour or so, then remove from cup and allow to drain.
TBH when I lived in Scotland winter rides were frequently scuppered by this, so I moved to a hope rear hub which never had a problem.
The pawl springs are stronger and act on each pawl individually, rather than a single spring clip holding the pawls in place and weak springing as a result in shimano hubs.
Oh and moving 300 miles south helped a lot too! 😉

Thanks all! I found a great link all about this from a fellow in Alaska! And as I thought, it's nothing to do with moisture or water - I knew that the brand new one I fitted was free of water anyway. And I'm not an@l about washing the thing anyway, only the chain, sprockets, jockey wheels, brakes free of grass and shizzle.

www.icebike.org/Equipment/freehub.htm

If you fancy taking your freehub apart then be my guest. Just make sure theres a swear jar nearby.
Flush then oil will do the job for a lot less hassle.

I've had my freehub freeze up once last year on the commute in -17 but never before or since. That was a random cheapy freehub with no special treatment and it's kept in the cold garage all year round. Freehubs are a piece of cake to service, just make sure you re-grease after winter as your oil will vanish fairly quickly as the temps rise and with use (hence the reason they use grease in the first place).

bigyinn +1

My XT freehub froze up the other night. Right pain in the wotsit.

The freehub froze on my road bike the other morning on my commute, Easton Vistas! Plan to sort/flush it through this weekend, so on the SS for the rest of the week.