Minitrix
07-08-2007, 03:02 AM
So, it seems like alot of people come onto this forum and ask the difference between them. So I'm writing this so they can tell the difference without making a thread that's the same as like, 20 other ones.
Types:
Coaster
Freewheel/Flip-Flop
Dual-Drive
Cassette
Freecoaster
Coaster brake hub
A coaster works with a clutch that threads onto the driver. The clutch is held laterally and vertically(Up and down/forward and back on the axle, not side to side) static by springs usually inside the clutch. The clutch is tapered at the end opposite the driver. At the other side of the clutch opposite the driver are brake shoes. When the pedals are move backwards, the clutch is threaded off the driver and pushed into the brake shoes, pushing the brake shoes against the hub shell, causing the bike to stop.
Sealed or unsealed: Unsealed
Cog size: 20-14T (Not 100% sure.)
Found on: Infant bikes, cruisers, etc.
Advantages: Apparently cheap to manufacture.
Disadvantages: Weak, outdated.
Freewheel/Flip flop
A freewheel hub, (or flip flop hub, if it accepts two kinds of freewheels) is almost identical to a front hub, except that on either side of the hub there is a set of threads, one side larger in diameter to the other, to allow sizes 15-18, the other side allowing sizes 14 and 13. A freewheel works by a "cartridge" containing spring loaded pawls surrounded by a cog with teeth integrated into it. As the bike is pedaled, the pawls catch the teeth and drive the wheel forward, when the bike is rolled backward the pawls catch on the teeth and force the pedals backward.
common freewheel:
Sealed or unsealed: Mostly unsealed.
Cog size: 18-13 teeth
Found on: Low-end completes.
Advantages: Cheap, easiest to work on.
Disadvantages: Weak, do not allow microgearing.
G-sport Homer hub (sectioned view) notice the threads on one side to accept a thread-on freewheel.
Dual Drive freewheel
A dual drive hub is exactly like a freewheel except for the fact that both sets of threads are the same diameter and one set is reverse threaded. these allow rhd or lhd freewheels of any available size. with the virtual demise of freewheels for cassettes, these are hard to find these days. DK, Fly and Hoffman (?) made one at some time.
Sealed or unsealed: Sealed
Cog size: 12-14
Found on: Dan's Comp
Advantages: Cheap, easy to work on, allows both RHD and LHD.
Disadvantages: Weak, does not allow microgearing.
Cassette
A cassette hub works by an integrated driver with pawls built in and a hub shell with integrated teeth. As the driver is turned the pawls catch the teeth inside the hub, similar to a freewheel.
Sealed or unsealed: Sealed
Cog size: 20-8
Found on: High-End completes
Advantages: Strong, LHD and RHD compatible, allows microgearing.
Disadvantages: Expensive, stripping out destroys hub.
Freecoaster
A freecoaster works the same way as a coaster hub, except without brake shoes. With the absence of brake shoes, this allows the bike to roll backwards without the pedals moving backwards. lots of info on www.free-coaster.com
see this video also: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12I8iK12oqA
Sealed or unsealed: Usually sealed.
Cog size: 18-9
Found on: High end KHE and flatland completes.
Advantages: LHD and RHD compatible, allows microgearing, allows bike to roll backwards without pedals moving.
Disadvantages: Harder to maintain, not as strong as cassette hubs, most expensive.
KHE Giesha sealed-bearing freecoaster hub:
insides:
Nankai Bamboo- unsealed freecoaster hub:
insides:
Types:
Coaster
Freewheel/Flip-Flop
Dual-Drive
Cassette
Freecoaster
Coaster brake hub
A coaster works with a clutch that threads onto the driver. The clutch is held laterally and vertically(Up and down/forward and back on the axle, not side to side) static by springs usually inside the clutch. The clutch is tapered at the end opposite the driver. At the other side of the clutch opposite the driver are brake shoes. When the pedals are move backwards, the clutch is threaded off the driver and pushed into the brake shoes, pushing the brake shoes against the hub shell, causing the bike to stop.
Sealed or unsealed: Unsealed
Cog size: 20-14T (Not 100% sure.)
Found on: Infant bikes, cruisers, etc.
Advantages: Apparently cheap to manufacture.
Disadvantages: Weak, outdated.
Freewheel/Flip flop
A freewheel hub, (or flip flop hub, if it accepts two kinds of freewheels) is almost identical to a front hub, except that on either side of the hub there is a set of threads, one side larger in diameter to the other, to allow sizes 15-18, the other side allowing sizes 14 and 13. A freewheel works by a "cartridge" containing spring loaded pawls surrounded by a cog with teeth integrated into it. As the bike is pedaled, the pawls catch the teeth and drive the wheel forward, when the bike is rolled backward the pawls catch on the teeth and force the pedals backward.
common freewheel:
Sealed or unsealed: Mostly unsealed.
Cog size: 18-13 teeth
Found on: Low-end completes.
Advantages: Cheap, easiest to work on.
Disadvantages: Weak, do not allow microgearing.
G-sport Homer hub (sectioned view) notice the threads on one side to accept a thread-on freewheel.
Dual Drive freewheel
A dual drive hub is exactly like a freewheel except for the fact that both sets of threads are the same diameter and one set is reverse threaded. these allow rhd or lhd freewheels of any available size. with the virtual demise of freewheels for cassettes, these are hard to find these days. DK, Fly and Hoffman (?) made one at some time.
Sealed or unsealed: Sealed
Cog size: 12-14
Found on: Dan's Comp
Advantages: Cheap, easy to work on, allows both RHD and LHD.
Disadvantages: Weak, does not allow microgearing.
Cassette
A cassette hub works by an integrated driver with pawls built in and a hub shell with integrated teeth. As the driver is turned the pawls catch the teeth inside the hub, similar to a freewheel.
Sealed or unsealed: Sealed
Cog size: 20-8
Found on: High-End completes
Advantages: Strong, LHD and RHD compatible, allows microgearing.
Disadvantages: Expensive, stripping out destroys hub.
Freecoaster
A freecoaster works the same way as a coaster hub, except without brake shoes. With the absence of brake shoes, this allows the bike to roll backwards without the pedals moving backwards. lots of info on www.free-coaster.com
see this video also: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12I8iK12oqA
Sealed or unsealed: Usually sealed.
Cog size: 18-9
Found on: High end KHE and flatland completes.
Advantages: LHD and RHD compatible, allows microgearing, allows bike to roll backwards without pedals moving.
Disadvantages: Harder to maintain, not as strong as cassette hubs, most expensive.
KHE Giesha sealed-bearing freecoaster hub:
insides:
Nankai Bamboo- unsealed freecoaster hub:
insides: