Whining / Hydraulic Brake Friction?

[Catalyzt]

Okay, I'm now noticing a second problem besides the shifting issue.

I have the bike on a stand -- a microphone stand, using a web belt and a... never mind.

Anyway, I notice that there is friction in the rear wheel somewhere-- it's not freewheeling as freely as it should, and I hear a very soft whining sound that increases in pitch as the speed of the wheel increases.

Gotta be the brakes, right? Anything else it could be? I don't think I want to work on that myself.

 

[fooferdoggie]

could be squeeze the lever a tiny bit and see. that Ould tell you if it is rubbing. may just need to be re centered.

 

[AHicks]

Okay, I'm now noticing a second problem besides the shifting issue.

I have the bike on a stand -- a microphone stand, using a web belt and a... never mind.

Anyway, I notice that there is friction in the rear wheel somewhere-- it's not freewheeling as freely as it should, and I hear a very soft whining sound that increases in pitch as the speed of the wheel increases.

Gotta be the brakes, right? Anything else it could be? I don't think I want to work on that myself.

Getting to know your bike a little better?
The answer COULD involve the drive type on your bike. If you have a direct drive rear hub for instance, there's a small amount of drag when coasting, as the motor turns into sort of a generator while coasting. Not a HUGE source of drag. Many owners rarely notice it, but it IS pretty obvious when the bike is upside down and you give the rear wheel a spin.

The other popular drive types, geared rear hubs and mid drives, both have clutches that uncouple the motor when coasting. Or better, regarding your question, are SUPPOSED to uncouple when coasting. If that clutch is damaged/not working as designed, that would also cause drag.

Or, the brake issue like @fooferdoggie mentions, bad bearings, etc.

 

[Catalyzt]

Getting to know your bike a little better?

Ha! Good one! Yeah, there was more than a little... WTF... Grr... f*k... %@X?#! (See my other thread, though, for the shocking surprise end of Season 1: Catalyzt wrenches on Seeker.)

The answer COULD involve the drive type on your bike. If you have a direct drive rear hub for instance, there's a small amount of drag when coasting, as the motor turns into sort of a generator while coasting. Not a HUGE source of drag. Many owners rarely notice it, but it IS pretty obvious when the bike is upside down and you give the rear wheel a spin.


The other popular drive types, geared rear hubs and mid drives, both have clutches that uncouple the motor when coasting. Or better, regarding your question, are SUPPOSED to uncouple when coasting. If that clutch is damaged/not working as designed, that would also cause drag.

Or, the brake issue like @fooferdoggie mentions, bad bearings, etc.

Mid-drive, and definitely not in the motor.

It's subtle. Like, spinning it backwards, it freewheels nicely... except for that teeny little whining sound... (descending in pitch and getting softer as the wheel slows down) and then... it stops a second or two or three before it seems like it should, and goes from super slow to dead stop instead of from super slow to almost not moving to dead stop.

I would never have noticed it while pedaling... though I DID notice that max downhill speeds on some segments have decreased slightly, from about maybe 35 or 36 MPH on one particular hill to 33.3. This could be accounted for by wind (which did seem a bit more intense) or by the shifting issues noted in my other thread, hard to know.

I'm thinking probably brakes, but could be bearing. Wonder how I'd know if it was a bearing... any thoughts?

Thanks so much for your positive energy. Was much needed, I'm not someone who is known for my extraordinary frustration threshold!