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Echo "sl" Freewheel Destroyers


LauraPalmer

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I´m not talking about the real "SL", but the "TR" which is mostly called SL on the forums, although i guess there wouldn´t be really much difference...

I have seen quite a few broken ones - usually the outer teeth;

So when you broke yours - did it literally explode and it was more or less like a chainsnap or did it break, you realized it, got off the bike healthy, went home, drank a coffee and mounted another one?

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The outer completely exploded under load causing the bearings, pawls everything to fly everywhere (X2)

The inner cracking in multiple places (x1)

A bearing or pawl snapping inside and causing it to lock up (x1)

The first 2 were like a chain snap, the last 2 were easier to deal with.

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The outer completely exploded under load causing the bearings, pawls everything to fly everywhere (X2)

The inner cracking in multiple places (x1)

A bearing or pawl snapping inside and causing it to lock up (x1)

The first 2 were like a chain snap, the last 2 were easier to deal with.

thanks for the fast answer!

ah that´s all I need to know; ENO and its massive outer teeth will stay;

Edited by LauraPalmer
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I would also add its the best freewheel I've ever used and will continue to do so. I'd rate it over an ENO any day. Each one has been 100% faultless up until the day it died (which takes a fair while)

most people do;

but I have never had problems with an ENO - when they are new I service them every two weeks and as soon as the bearing stops greasing, they are great; came from King and had two (first for 2 years which is on a friends bike since more than 2 years now - one pawl broke and the other one I´m using now is already two years old) - no skipping ever - only a few noises when they are new; I would go for the Echo mainly because of the more engagement points and because i get it for about 40 euros only, but the thin outer ring keeps me from doing...

Edited by LauraPalmer
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Thats cool - I have to say we as a bunch are hard on freewheels, and for reference I alone have snapped about 6 pawls, the lockrings are a nightmare, snapped countless springs etc on ENOs, stripped 2 ratchet rings and cracked 2 hubshells (even on the new improved shell)on a Pro2T hub.

So if you can make an ENO last that well, I'm sure an Echo will be fine. Having said that, if you're happy with an ENO then you may as well stick to it (Y)

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I guess something to bear in mind is that the SL outsells (well, for us at least) every other freewheel out there by a significant amount, and it seems from looking at people's bikes on here and other forums it's by far and away the most popular freewheel out there. Because of that, if it has the same %age of failure as any other freewheel it's going to look worse simply because it'll be a higher number of "I've broken my freewheel" threads.

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Thats cool - I have to say we as a bunch are hard on freewheels, and for reference I alone have snapped about 6 pawls, the lockrings are a nightmare, snapped countless springs etc on ENOs, stripped 2 ratchet rings and cracked 2 hubshells (even on the new improved shell)on a Pro2T hub.

So if you can make an ENO last that well, I'm sure an Echo will be fine. Having said that, if you're happy with an ENO then you may as well stick to it (Y)

I will keep it; even if it´s not as good as the Echo in every aspect, apart from the outer teeth ring; I don´t care about broken pawls, springs etc... everything replaceable - but i care about the outer teeth ring, which like you said could be in case of failure like a chainsnap(which i fear the most, as i snapped a LOT)... Lockrings are a nightmare on the ENOs, but i got a very nice tool whith which i can do and undo it like nothing...

I was just a bit tempted as i have one lying around which i will use to complete a used bike I´m going to sell... I´m wondering myself why the ENO holds up so good, I killed a CK classic within a year... maybe it´s just the penible servicing at the beginning of usage... anyway, thanks for feedback!

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I've only broken 1 sl freewheel. It was 1 year old and the outer teeth broke.

I've broken 2 ENO free wheels. Completely killed the insides and broke the outer teeth.

Value for money I'd say the sl are what you need. I'll never run a eno again. You get 2 SL for the price aswell

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Just thought Id let you all know my SL is dying after 7 months of use.

Skips every now and again and makes a worrying grinding sound when it spins past a certain point.

Allthough I think this is down to me riding with my chain Wayyyyyy too tight at one point.

Id still buy another though (Y)

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Is it a good idea to clean them out after a few rides?

Mines started to skip but I've read most people just bang them on then don't touch them and they have been fine.

I'm not sure if its the tensionor :unsure: Might try my other one to see....

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Skips every now and again and makes a worrying grinding sound when it spins past a certain point.

Allthough I think this is down to me riding with my chain Wayyyyyy too tight at one point.

If it only makes the noise at a certain point, and you know your chain's too tight at a certain point, it shouldn't be too hard to work out the answer to that little conundrum ;)

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can i ask a technical guru on here because its always something that's skull f**ked me, why do freewheels 'float' ?

If you mean the wobble/variation in chain tension, a lot of that's down to your cranks. I took the same SL off one pair of cranks and put them on another, and there was a significant change in the amount of wobble. Not ideal...

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If it only makes the noise at a certain point, and you know your chain's too tight at a certain point, it shouldn't be too hard to work out the answer to that little conundrum ;)

"At a point" meaning at a certain point in time.

The chains not overly tight now, but Ive definatley damaged it :(

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can i ask a technical guru on here because its always something that's skull f**ked me, why do freewheels 'float' ?

because the threads on the cranks are not concentric with the splines for the bb axle, also the the outer ring can be throwing compared to the inner ring.

i may measure one on worl later if i get time.

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Mine turned out to be the tensionor (Y)

Just took a link out of the chain tonight to make it work better but I think Ill get the trialtech tensionor in the bigger size so I can run the arm against the frame like some others seem to do.

Speak to Luke Sam, he might be able to sort you out.

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Mine turned out to be the tensionor (Y)

Just took a link out of the chain tonight to make it work better but I think Ill get the trialtech tensionor in the bigger size so I can run the arm against the frame like some others seem to do.

Speak to Luke Sam, he might be able to sort you out.

(Y)

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  • 6 months later...

Hey guys, I just joined this sight in order to revive your dead thread, any help would be great.

I just rebuilt my bike with a new frame, I previously was running a 2011 Zoo!, bought completely new, I changed over to a 26" Because street/trials frame and kept most of my parts.

I have the tr (not sl) free wheel and it's now skipping and when i shake it i can here the bearings banging around.

Now my question is: Is this thing broken?

I switched from rear 15t to 12t when I switched over to my street trials frame.

I also previously didn't use a tensioner, am now using a dabomb rl1 (piece of crap if you ask me).

I also try to keep chain tension relatively high, nothing crazy.

Should I replace it?

I live in China so everything is dirt cheap.

If you guys want a picture of my setup let me know.

Thanks in advance for any and all help.

Cheers

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The skipping isn't normal but the loose bearings are. If its skipping, you could well have snapped a pawl or spring. Try opening it up and see if you can see anything.

That is, of course, if you are sure its your freewheel. With a 12t sprocket I;d say it was lack of chain wrap. get a dual wheel tensioner and see if its any better.

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My second SL has lost some engagements. Not cool considering its only 4 months old....

Whereas my Brothers SL is over a year old, hasnt skipped once and is as loud as it was when he bought it.

Ive gone through a Tensile 60, an SL, another Tensile 60 and now this SL in the same time.

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