Rear hub cassette spinning

UbuntuBhoy

Finding my (electric) wheels
Jan 13, 2022
6
0
Hi all. I have a Yosepower rear hub kit which has served me well for over a year, however while cycling home from work today I bumped down and up a couple of kerbs and my rear hub cassette started spinning freely. To be clear my pedal assist still worked fine (thank God as that's what got me home) and the motor did it's job but the wheel doesn't turn by pedaling. I can find plenty articles and videos for fixing a cassette\hub doing this on a standard bike but coming up blank for fixing a motorized rear hub

Looking for advice or a link to how to get into the hub and hopefully fix this.
 

sjpt

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jun 8, 2018
3,814
2,745
Winchester
Probably stuck or out of position pawls in the cassette/freewheel.

If it's freewheel gears that's quite easy, or cheap to replace the freewheel altogether; exactly as for a standard bike. (The hard part is getting the old freewheel off).

A cassette hub may be a little trickier; and I don't know how much the motor makes it more difficult. Some oil and a few sharp taps may be enough.
 

Bikes4two

Esteemed Pedelecer
Feb 21, 2020
997
428
Havant
I would guess the pawls in the freehub/freewheel have either got stuck (squirt in some lube to see if this improves things), but it's best to get the right removal tool eg one for a freehub or freewheel and replace it to give you confidence for future cycling.

(Freehub is like Shimano cassette, a freewheel is screw-on/off and can be a begger to un-screw).
 

Nealh

Esteemed Pedelecer
Aug 7, 2014
20,882
8,517
61
West Sx RH
Pawl are usually held by a elastic fine spring, bumping may have damaged the spring or the pawls may be jammed. If a cassette hub then the hub carrier or freehub may be removable but not always, some are integrated with the hub motor side plate and can't be removed. Aikema128C is one such hub and likely most Aikema's, fortunately one can buy new Aikema side plates.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Bikes4two

UbuntuBhoy

Finding my (electric) wheels
Jan 13, 2022
6
0
Pawl are usually held by a elastic fine spring, bumping may have damaged the spring or the pawls may be jammed. If a cassette hub then the hub carrier or freehub may be removable but not always, some are integrated with the hub motor side plateand can't be removed. Akiema 128C is one such hub and likely most akiema's.
Yeah I managed to get the cover off but the motor is attached to the cover which is also the freehub side. I was hoping that removing the cover would gain new access to the freehub but sadly not. I have sissy cleaned and lubbed it and it seems to working again but I won't really know for sure until I take out under load again tomorrow.
 

Nealh

Esteemed Pedelecer
Aug 7, 2014
20,882
8,517
61
West Sx RH
Water could get in and cause rusting so lubing as best as poss may be the answer.
One may be able to get a spare side plate with freehub by contacting Yose.
 

saneagle

Esteemed Pedelecer
Oct 10, 2010
6,563
3,057
Telford
All you need to do is get copious amounts of 3-in-one oil into it where the pawls are, then tap it a few times. It must be 3-in-one, not other types. Put more oil in from time to time if you use it in wet winter conditions.
 

Bikes4two

Esteemed Pedelecer
Feb 21, 2020
997
428
Havant
  • Just lubing may or may not free up the pawls/other and it may or may not stay fixed.
  • Given that a re-occurence may occur and given how that could leave you stranded *, ideally it is preferable (IMHO) to strip down and make sure there is no damage. Unless of course a breakdown isn't much of a problem to overcome
  • If you're unable to strip down then just lubing it is.
* Apologies if that's excessive for you but as an ex long distance bike tourer I have a mind set of looking at all possible breakdowns and mitigate them if practibable, and/or how I'd deal with a problem 50 miles from home or a bike shop. :cool:
 

jimriley

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jun 17, 2020
590
393
To get a freewheel off, use the spline tool in a vice and turn the wheel via the rim. I watched an expert flibbertigibbet in Halfrauds trying it with a ring spanner on the spline tool. He was struggling.
 
  • Agree
  • Like
Reactions: Bikes4two and sjpt