My 21 speed Giant (cheapie, low end Giant) has developed an annoying habit. Anytime you coast the chain bunches up and tries to come off the front sprocket. Any thoughts?

sounds like the chain tightener or the chain tension deal is bad. check to see if you have a bolt missing on it.

Free wheel is shot. That's what allows the cassette (rear gears) to stay put while the wheel still rotates. When you quit pedaling the gears keep turning with the rear wheel.

Might need a whole new rear wheel, or might be able to lube it. I haven't had to take mine apart in a couple of years, so I fergit what it all takes. I'll check my repair manuals.

sounds like the chain tightener or the chain tension deal is bad. check to see if you have a bolt missing on it.
No obvious damage to the tensioner although it is behaving strangely.

Free wheel is shot. That's what allows the cassette (rear gears) to stay put while the wheel still rotates. When you quit pedaling the gears keep turning with the rear wheel.

Might need a whole new rear wheel, or might be able to lube it. I haven't had to take mine apart in a couple of years, so I fergit what it all takes. I'll check my repair manuals.
Would that cause the tensioner to go slack and then take up the the slack again as the wheel slows down?

Try taking off the rear wheel from the bike frame. Once it is removed, make sure the cassette (gears) will spin when you rotate it by hand.

You may also have one of the chain links sticking or binding. If you know how to remove the chain, you can check each link by bending them to make sure that they move freely. Come to think of it, you can also do that without removing the chain.

Come on, Synchro, the resource is under our noses....

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See, Mark, we take good care of our memebers! Not everyplace you get do it yourself video, when asking a nonguitar topic!.:):)

If it were in front of me, I most likely could fix it. Bikes are VERY VERY VERY tricky, especially new ones. So many small parts that seemingly do nothing but are vital to the operation.

Go to the library and take out the Park Tool Big Blue Book of Bicycle Repair, or some other such book. Or some other bike repair book.

Thanks for all of the info. My guess is that years of desert dust has had its toll. If the local repair guy calls back I'll send it his way, if not I'll yank the rear wheel and see if I can free up the cassette with my super powers. :)

Thanks for all of the info. My guess is that years of desert dust has had its toll. If the local repair guy calls back I'll send it his way, if not I'll yank the rear wheel and see if I can free up the cassette with my super powers. :)

Again, if you yank off the rear wheel, also check the chain. Go link by link, and make sure each one rotates freely.

Fixable. The freewheel mechanism needs to be flushed out & re-lubed. Whether cassette hub or separate freewheel it typically requires specialty tools. Though some old freewheels could be cleaned on the wheel.

Mark

Just sell your lap steel, then you can buy a new bike! :D

Fixable. The freewheel mechanism needs to be flushed out & re-lubed. Whether cassette hub or separate freewheel it typically requires specialty tools. Though some old freewheels could be cleaned on the wheel.
I know that it comes off easily enough. I'll pop the rear wheel and have a look.
Mark

Just sell your lap steel, then you can buy a new bike! :D
Sounds like a plan.

In the olden days, the freewheel was a stand alone part that threaded on to the hub shell. You could remove the whole kit & kaboodle without taking out the axle. Not so on cassettes. With cassette hubs you have to pull the axle to get at the freewheel mechanism & the right tool to disengage it from the hub shell. The cassette is a superior design as it seals better & supports the axle better too.

I found the source of the problem, the spoke protector (pie plate) had come adrift and was jammed between the cassette and the hub. I re-centered it and all is well only because I'm far too lazy to take it apart and ash-can it.