Freehub ratchet mech failure mode?

[Overclocker]

i haven't seen too many freehub ratchet mechanisms trashed by mid-drives around here, or maybe i'm just looking at the wrong places? but these things are pretty strong right?

i'm now running a modded GNG w/ stock controller and a shimano alivio-level rear freehub w/ 11T to 34T. i have nothing to worry about, right?

 

[nutnspecial]

I think you'd be hardpressed to break it, and hardpressed to find any broken ones on here? (You have?)

I saw that years ago they were broaching 2x 1spd freewheels to go on freehub body spline and were running motors big enough for single reduction direct into the freehub. Never heard of one breaking surprisingly.

 

[Thud]

I have destroyed 2 freehubs driving them with an 80/100. (Both were shimano 525 rear hubs) But that was motor/ reduction directly to a lage sprocket to the free hub.

It can be done....if you can eliminate any hammering effect from slack between pawl engagements, it will help.(i am sure that was the cause if the 1st fail)
My freehub/freewheel failures have all been "open" where they just stripped out & failed to drive forward.

Worst fail was a sheared hub at the threaded section with a thread on 16t bmx freewheel.....it broke in the driveway under heavy pedal & put me over the bars when the crank free-spun.. Wish i had it on camera

 

[nutnspecial]

Hey Thud, I assume you were putting +5k watts into the freehubs? I seem to have used a similar simple drive design people used to run long ago, what's your take on the whiteind hd in my setup? It's held up so far to a 65/160lb rig and 20s 75a/200a.

I'm also wondering what you moved on to as well!!!!!

 

[Thud]

5kw give or take....(mostly give lol)
Love the white ind. freewheels on the rear hub.....they are really a bad match for a freewheeling crank. They get realy floppy really fast..Edit: i just looked at your build thread...I missed that & I love it.

was supposed to get the prototype HD from SBP but paco ran into the google relocating my house in the mail fiasco that makes shopping online a trial the last two years i may try to hook up with kfong for a trail ride before I ship gregs bike back to him.
GcinDc' has been uber patient with my "never satisfied" design stage for his DH comp....but i am dangerously close to the unveiling. Keep your eyes on the photos section for an update....hopfully by the end of next week

I am allways working.....& designing & redesigning a sub 5# 3kw BB drive system....that some how got re-named a "mid drive" ....Early on we refered to the gng & derivitives as "serial drives" that worked directly with the pedals...recumpence drives & most of mine were described as "parralell drives" independant of the pedal drive line.

I know the 80mm outrunners are going to be available again very soon.(bankrolled by a forum member) That has me motivated to bring the simple reduction into a production run.

 

[amberwolf]

I'd suggest looking around on places like Bikeforums to see what kinds of failures are reported there, in "normal" use, so you can see which kinds of freehubs to avoid (as if they fail in that use, they have a bigger chance of failing in motorized use too).

 

[nutnspecial]

Thanks Thud, you know I'm gonna quote that serial/parallel right? Awesome info, thanks!
Maybe it's just that people aren't doing it, or I am nuts for liking it, but I am loving my ride, and am really surprised this style is not 'out there' more. It took me FOREVER to even find a build to steer me away from middrive and hubs. Almost as close to a bicycle as a middrive, but there's no way they compare the power capacity.
Almost as close to a big hub in speed, but you can gear as you wish for some mean power, and it's lighter and more agile.
Why do rides like this fade away?

Best,
j