Powered by Outside

Freecoaster/neutral gear on a 9 speed

PB Forum :: Bikes, Parts, and Gear
Freecoaster/neutral gear on a 9 speed

 Post Message | Latest Comment
Author Message
flag Sayshell
O+
Posted: Oct 23, 2020 at 16:30 Quote
The goal I am aiming for is to create a neutral gear, while sacrificing as few other gears as possible to accomplish this on a 9 speed system. The purpose of the neutral gear is so you can ride backwards without pedaling. I have successfully achieved this, but I had to eliminate 2 gears. I basically just knocked out 7, and 8, and then reduced the size of 6 so it can shift. The chain just spins on the cassette spacers where 7 and 8 used to be.

Back in 2003 Aaron Chase came up with a good system for this. But his system knocks off 3 gears. Ideally I would want a gear on a bushing that just rotates when you pedal on it or something like this, and to only knock off 1 gear. I am wondering if a better system was invented for a neutral gear since then, or if you have a good idea to upgrade the current system.

- The problems with the current system I have is mainly It's a bit difficult to shift from neutral back onto a gear. If I could use something like a rotating gear that just spins on the freehub body then the chain would not drop down low making this shift difficult. I am considering fatter cassette spacers on the neutral area, but this might create other problems like the chain snagging gears while in neutral. The current system never snags, which is important for safety. Ideally I also would like to get back up to an 8 speed if possible. Worst case scenario is I just keep it as is. I am already pretty happy with the current system.

I probably posted this in the wrong section... But not sure.
flag derechtefux
Posted: Oct 24, 2020 at 7:09 Quote
Gee Atherton s neutral gear mechanism. The idea here is that on rougher sections of track He d shift into the dead gear to eliminate pedal feedback.

I can't give you any advice, but maybe a look at gee athertons solution helps you
flag Sayshell
O+
Posted: Oct 24, 2020 at 10:50 Quote
derechtefux wrote:

I can't give you any advice, but maybe a look at gee athertons solution helps you
Thanks anyways Smile That is basically what I have now.
flag Sayshell
O+
Posted: Oct 26, 2020 at 14:05 Quote
Well I tried a lot of experimentation and this system works really good. Basically the trick is to wipe out your last gear, and leave a small ridge to center the chain (chains are a bit lower in the center). Here is why this system works so good...

Pros:
-The ridge keeps the chain center even during spins. The edge of the chain is fatter than the center so it keeps the chain in place.
-Shifts flawlessly. No rickety or lagged shifts. Feels just like shifting in/out of any other gear.
-Lose only 1 gear.
-Mild weight savings
-Easy to locate neutral gear, just shift all the way to the end. (It can be easy to mix up which gear is neutral if your neutral is in the middle of the cassette, and you are moving too fast for the pawls to engage)
-Works flawlessly, no snags, or accidental engagements under any conditions.

Cons:
-You lose a tiny amount of range. (Smallest gear is 12t now instead of 11)
-Freecoaster is slightly noisier with the ridge
-Very very slowly will wear down chain
-You lose 1 gear

An actual neutral gear on a bearing/bushing would be better, but as far as quick and easy solutions go this seems pretty solid.

photo
flag farfrompkin
Posted: Oct 27, 2020 at 10:59 Quote
Would you say its worth doing or is the shifting from neutral back to gear too slow to be beneficial ?

I had tried this years ago with removing one of the middle cogs of the cassette but found it had too much lag so now im curious to try it again but with your method but id probably take the last 2 maybe 3 gears off to make space for a single speed spacer i already have kicking around.

Any insight would be much appreciated.

Thanks
flag Sayshell
O+
Posted: Oct 27, 2020 at 11:04 Quote
rockerdude wrote:
Would you say its worth doing or is the shifting from neutral back to gear too slow to be beneficial ?

I had tried this years ago with removing one of the middle cogs of the cassette but found it had too much lag so now im curious to try it again but with your method but id probably take the last 2 maybe 3 gears off to make space for a single speed spacer i already have kicking around.

Any insight would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Yes definitely try it again. When I tried with the middle gears missing it didn't work well, really massive shifting lag. Also another major benefit of being at the end is you just upshift all the way and know you are in neutral for sure. It's easy to mix up middle gears, and it creates even more delays to make sure you are in neutral before free coasting.
This way it shifts 100% instantly/perfect. The only exception is if you have 0-1kmph of speed, but if you had an 11t gear it would be hard to make this shift at such low speed too anyways. Definitely a super fun mod, totally worth it.
I would just take off 1 gear and test it. The easiest way to make that center ridge is just take any ordinary 11 tooth end gear, and grind off the teeth. That will leave a perfect sized ridge. Then just swap out your 8th gear for a 12t, and maybe shrink your 7th gear a bit (assuming you are 9 speed). I am doing high speed 180s all day, and all sorts of fun stuff. Hasn't had an issue yet, but will report back in a month or two hahaha.
flag farfrompkin
Posted: Oct 28, 2020 at 5:54 Quote
I went ahead and did it to my buddies banshee rampant last night but before reading this hahaha, got bored and figured I have nothing to loose.

We ended up using a hard black rubber piece that fit pretty good after taking a knife to it.

Works damn well I was super surprised and not sure why I hadn't thought about the shift delay being because the gap was too large from neutral to the gear. Going to do mine tonight ,might attempt grinding down an 11t .

Thanks for the post , made my buddies day for sure
flag Sayshell
O+
Posted: Oct 28, 2020 at 7:51 Quote
Awesome! Yeah I was surprised too, thought I would need to something fancy.
flag Sayshell
O+
Posted: Dec 3, 2021 at 11:12 Quote
Well after a solid year of testing it, I can say it's 100% flawless. The end gear ridge system is perfect. I never had a single accidental engagement in a year, I never confuse the neutral gear for another gear, and the chain always shifts out of neutral instantly. Some notes are...

-I run a titanium ultra strong derailleur hanger so my derailleur is always perfectly straight. This may or may not matter, but I imagine if the derailleur bends you could accidentally engage.

-I run a box 2 drivetrain kit with a very strong clutch. Clutch is absolutely essential.
flag swoofty
Posted: Dec 31, 2021 at 16:23 Quote
[Quote="Sayshell"]Well after a solid year of testing it, I can say it's 100% flawless. The end gear ridge system is perfect. I never had a single accidental engagement in a year, I never confuse the neutral gear for another gear, and the chain always shifts out of neutral instantly.

Do you have any video of you using this system effectively? Still seems like an overly complicated solution to not a real problem. Curious to see how you actually use it.
flag Sayshell
O+
Posted: Dec 31, 2021 at 17:20 Quote
[Quote="swoofty"]
Sayshell wrote:
Well after a solid year of testing it, I can say it's 100% flawless. The end gear ridge system is perfect. I never had a single accidental engagement in a year, I never confuse the neutral gear for another gear, and the chain always shifts out of neutral instantly.

Do you have any video of you using this system effectively? Still seems like an overly complicated solution to not a real problem. Curious to see how you actually use it.

Yeah I'll upload a video in the spring hahaha, putting together some clips for a vid. It's not a problem... Unless you want to ride backwards without pedaling.
flag yberther
Posted: Sep 19, 2025 at 13:22 Quote
doesn't it allow your suspension to move without pedal engagement? Can you take any other pics?
  • Previous Page
  • Next Page

 


Copyright © 2000 - 2026. Pinkbike.com. All rights reserved.
dv56 0.013657
Mobile Version of Website