isitafox Posted June 2, 2011 Report Share Posted June 2, 2011 (edited) This probably won't apply to a lot of members but if anyone has a Tensile FFW which skips a lot (or even if it doesn't) this could come in handy. I was advised to try and clean out a Tensile when bought as they have a lot of grease packed inside which tends to stick them up a bit and stop the pawls and springs working properly which in turn leads to copious amounts of pain. I have owned a Tensile before which I purchased 2nd hand off here, cleaned out and ran on my mod for over a year without it skipping once and have just bought another to fit to my sons bike so thought I'd document the rebuild of it to help out anyone who wants to have a go themselves. The freewheel in question I have been told has skipped on the previous owner, however, upon taking it apart I found it to be filled with old dirty grease so hopefully this should sort it (I haven't tested it yet as I've literally just done it and am sat at work!). Tools required: FFW/bottom bracket tool (I use this one) Hammer Punch (or something you don't mind bashing up that'll fit the holes in the lockring!) WD40/GT85/degreaser Thin oil (I use 3 in 1 oil as it's pretty thin) Locktite Tweezers Small flat blade screwdriver Lots of rags to clean up the grease I started by cracking the lock nut off with a hammer and punch then taking the freewheel apart and laying everything out. In order it should be the lockring, upper bearing, shims, outer teeth (be very careful when you lift this off not to let the springs flick themselves or the pawls out!), pawls, springs, lower bearing and lastly the centre. As you can see below the centre (still fitted with pawls, springs and lower bearing) is well glued up with grease! Once you have everything seperated get your degreaser and some rags and give everything a good clean, beware that this can be very messy so if your young don't do it on your mums kitchen table without a lot of newspaper down and some old clothes on!! When you clean the bearings make sure that if any BB's pop out you put them back in the cage. I have everything cleaned up and laid out. Now to start putting things back together, firstly the centre and lower bearing making sure the BB's face upwards! It doesn't matter which of the 2 bearings you use as they're both the same Next pop the outer teeth on, make sure you put it the right way so the pawls will engage!! When this is on carefully fit each of the springs into the right hand holes on each section (this is where the tweezers come in handy!) Now comes the tricky bit of fitting the pawls back in, use the flat bladed screwdriver to push the springs toward the centre and drop the pawl into the guide hole. This can be quite fiddly the first time you do it so be patient. Once you've got them all dropped in push down on the outer ring and give it a slight twist to check they're in properly. Don't spin it dead fast or you'll probably pop some if not all the springs and/or pawls out and you'll have to start again! Now give the whole thing a light coat of the thin oil to keep things moving then drop the shims on. And finally add the upper bearing. Give the upper bearing a drop of oil then pop some loctite on the lockring thread and screw it on using the BB tool to hold the centre as you tighten it. Job done, leave it to sit for an hour or so to let the loctite set then fit to your bike and away you go! You'll also notice that with all the grease cleaned out it will be considerably louder which some people think is an added bonus (not me however!) Disclaimer: This is not a guarantee to make your FFW perfectly skip free however it should greatly reduce the problem for anyone who suffers with it. If yours skips and your looking at buying new then give this a try first, you may save yourself some money in the process! Edited June 2, 2011 by isitafox 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark W Posted June 2, 2011 Report Share Posted June 2, 2011 PhotoFail... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isitafox Posted June 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2011 Fixed, seems strange that you can't type the img quotes and links but when I copy and paste them although exactly the same they work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Alty Posted June 2, 2011 Report Share Posted June 2, 2011 Holy sht that was alot of grease in there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CalRobbo341 Posted September 1, 2012 Report Share Posted September 1, 2012 Fixed, seems strange that you can't type the img quotes and links but when I copy and paste them although exactly the same they work! Can you give an example of a punch, I have 2 tensiles in the shed, at least I have 1, may aswell clean it up and have it as a spare. I already have everything to do this so was hoping you could give an example of a 'punch'. Cheers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isitafox Posted September 1, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 1, 2012 http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/et103-5-piece-long-drivepin-punch-set though a small phillips screwdriver should do the job Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CalRobbo341 Posted September 1, 2012 Report Share Posted September 1, 2012 Ahhhhhh! Yes makes alot more sense now, I didn't know if you meant like say, another bb tool that you don't mind damaging, thanks again, getting right to it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CalRobbo341 Posted September 1, 2012 Report Share Posted September 1, 2012 How hard should it be to get it off with a hammer and screwdriver? I'm having real trouble Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isitafox Posted September 1, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 1, 2012 Some can be really tight, you are trying to undo it anti-clockwise right??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CalRobbo341 Posted September 1, 2012 Report Share Posted September 1, 2012 (edited) Yes for sure, would stick it in a vice but kind of broke it a while ago, will try it outside so I can hit the handle full force, currently in my bedroom.. Back in 5. EDIT - Another failed attempt, cant hold it in place correctly, its not desperate anyway, would have just been something to do in spare time Edited September 1, 2012 by CalRobbo341 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bing Posted January 6, 2013 Report Share Posted January 6, 2013 Just done this, it was skipping before. Opened the ffw up, to find it full of gungey shite and filings. Gave it a good clean following this guide, and a light spray with 3 in 1 oil, put the lockring back on and now its loads better, and considerably louder than before. Nice metallic clicking noise now 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dann2707 Posted January 6, 2013 Report Share Posted January 6, 2013 I think I need to do this to my Echo TR, shit feels pretty unstable and skipped on me the other day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blake Posted January 6, 2013 Report Share Posted January 6, 2013 I think I need to do this to my Echo TR, shit feels pretty unstable and skipped on me the other day. not sure where the freewheel is located on echo freewheels. . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dann2707 Posted January 6, 2013 Report Share Posted January 6, 2013 I'm gonna take a guess at on the freewheel? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King C Posted January 6, 2013 Report Share Posted January 6, 2013 To the right of the echo I thought? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bing Posted January 6, 2013 Report Share Posted January 6, 2013 The minus point with an echo is you have to get it off the crank to get to the lockring. On a tensile you don't, no such hassle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dann2707 Posted January 6, 2013 Report Share Posted January 6, 2013 Eeek true, need to spin my bashring round a tad anyway. 2 birds 1 stone job at neils soon i think! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isitafox Posted January 6, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2013 If it's a job at Neils there will no doubt be a grinder involved at some point surely??? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bing Posted January 6, 2013 Report Share Posted January 6, 2013 If it's a job at Neils there will no doubt be a grinder involved at some point surely??? There was last time I needed to get a freewheel off. It was a reyt stubborn bar steward. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dann2707 Posted January 6, 2013 Report Share Posted January 6, 2013 Yep. All I wanted to do was tighten my crank bolts and the grinder was out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isitafox Posted January 6, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2013 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunt man t Posted January 6, 2013 Report Share Posted January 6, 2013 (edited) The minus point with an echo is you have to get it off the crank to get to the lockring. On a tensile you don't, no such hassle i forgot about that i can do it tomorrow now yay!! what 'click' freewheel is this? 36? 60? 96? Edited January 6, 2013 by stunt man t Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isitafox Posted January 6, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2013 I've done it to two 60's and a 96 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunt man t Posted January 6, 2013 Report Share Posted January 6, 2013 i dont have any 3 in 1 oil though what else could i use mate? ive got loads of royal blood Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isitafox Posted January 6, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2013 Not sure if that would work but it might, any light oil would do the job though to be honest I just used gt85 I think. I put to use 3 or 4 in 1 oil in the guide as that is preferred but I didn't have any to hand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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