Coaster Brake Hub - What's Inside? How Does It Work? Cutaway View!

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

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[@RatSleds]

hey im looking for SUpercycle 19 tooth rear Drive Sprocket for my bike any ideas where to start looking besides my local dump which i know many are in there ha!

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

@@RatSleds ebay maybe.

[@AlphaYTang]

Thank you sir for the clear explanation. If one wanted to disable the brake and make it a freewheel hub, would removing the brake shoes alone do the trick? Or would that cause a problem with the clutch engaging the hub?

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

No. Buy a freewheel wheel.

[@Trian30]

Hey RJ, great video! I was wondering if you could explain how a coaster brake can be adjusted. My daughter’s new bicycle has a coaster brake which feels too tight (the wheel does not spin completely freely). I would like to loosen it just a bit without taking the whole hub apart.

[@Johnha1980]

What fascinates me, growing up and riding these in the late 60's and early 70's, is that no matter how much we rode, and we rode EVERYWHERE, and how much we abused our Spyder bikes, and we abused the hell out of them, I can't recall ever seeing one of these fail, or even getting any kind of maintenance. Great video!

[@charliepatterson9321]

They fail when you ride in salt water . As a kid we were riding our bikes in the beach for fun , all of a sudden one guys bike seized and then one by one all of our back rims locked up . All 4 of us had to drag our bikes about 8 miles home and rebuild them . So I guess technically they didn't fail because all we had to do was get the sand out for them to work again , but there was a lesson to be learned that day in 1976 that I will never forget . Don't ride a coaster brake in the beach ( literally in the water )

[@speedy-cc]

That was probly aspestos that made it last so long lol

[@travelinghermit]

@@speedy-cc Civil suit commercial be like, "Have you, or a loved one worked in a bicycle repair shop..?"

[@dirtroadfarmsjimmideanreen2458]

@Bob Bummer.. I've been looking to buy a new coaster bike and the Cranbrook was what I had decided on... Did you upgrade it??? Thanks, Jim. My reply to this comment; in 76 I was 12 always fixing my Frankenstein bikes yet never understood the Coaster Hub/brake, in to much of a hurry to just get back out there with my buddy's, said to myself,"No need to put the Lil clamp back on the Coaster Arm that keeps it from moving, I'm in a hurry!" Well....about 5 skids on the Black top my friend said," Hey!!! The lil arm is hanging down!" I told him ,"No worries John... it'll be all right!!! Lets ride!!!" Well...about 4 more pavement skids and WHAMMO!!! I still don't understand why but my Axel SNAPPED IN HALF!!!! So back to my Laboratory to to put Frankie back to the OPERATING ROOM... A Donated Axel from another cadaver not Able to reassemble all the pieces correctly, my New Frankie was off and running...this time without any Brakes...? No more Skids,(other than in my shorts!!! Lol!!!) For this young biker that summer...😁

[@somerando5814]

I got a new bike that’s built exactly like this large water guards old ish styled frame and hub brakes single speed I got it specifically because I thought it would last a long long time

[@freemansame8062]

After decades of riding bikes with coaster brake, youtube algorithm decided it's time for me to learn how it works, thank you so much !

[@ricardotijerina886]

Same here 😅😅

[@longebane]

I actively went looking for this lol

[@ranjan_v]

I am from india and never knew how these work, you did a wonderful job explaining. Thank you

[@ProjectPhysX]

I grew up with a small bike with one of these. The breaking mechanism always felt like magic to me and I never understood how it worked, until now, 15 years later. Thank you so much for the video!

[@geedoctor]

This is really cool. 49 years ago, I figured out how the braking part worked but I never realied there was a toothed part which engaged with the hub. Makes sense now. Thank you.

[@marcoscorpio140]

Dude! This is exactly, and I mean exactly, what I was looking for even down to the color bike of the bike and Bendix hub. My wife has a 1966 Schwinn Hollywood Deluxe that has been hanging in her Dad's garage for 40 + years. Brought it home today to try to get it rideable for her. When turning the crank, the back wheel did not spin and the crank would spin freely backwards as well. I followed your excellent instruction to disassemble the hub, clean, re-grease and re-assemble it and Viola! The hub and coaster brake work great! Thank you RJ!! PS, the tire tubes still hold air, unbelievable.

[@joepatroni8777]

If there is anything that I'm NOT, it's mechanically inclined. This is hands down the best in depth explanation of a mechanical device that I have ever watched on youtube. And I've watched a lot! Very interesting. Something I just always took for granted on one of the most important components on my bike. Thank you.

[@jonmyers8046]

I think that it really sucks that we didn't have internet when growing up. I remember tearing stuff like this apart as a kid trying to figure out how it worked and more importantly how the heck to fix it! Great video

[@cebuanostud]

Since i was a kid I have been trying to figure out what kind of bike my uncle had in the Philippines where he just pedaled backward to stop the bike lol. So now i know, it was a Coaster Brake Hub. thanks Mr. RJ.

[@CM-hb9ob]

cebuanostud or it could of been a fixed gear

[@CM-hb9ob]

cebuanostud nvm if he was coasting then it would be coast brake

[@kevinkelly1529]

ChristianXRdz2 channel *have Not of

[@CM-hb9ob]

Kevin Kelly Oof

[@PinoyBiker17]

@christian m i think it was a coast brake hub. :)

[@Floridamarty]

I don't know who invented this coaster brake/clutch assembly ,but it's genius! I'm 60 years old, and have been working on bikes most my life and never saw such a well thought out and demonstrated explanation of the workings of this hub. I sometimes am surprised when I see someone who doesn't even know to peddle backwards to stop. I guess it matters when you grew up. Love the old Schwinn! Thanks.

[@Dwaine-ir2kt]

Wouldn't it stop instantly instead of slowing to a stop 🤔

[@koraykumru1295]

I love how quiet these are, and I love having clean handlebars as well as being able to stop with no hands!

[@jasongruntkosky6604]

Great video on how it works I want to make a aluminum hub sealed bearing version. Something attempted and not produced yet not sure why it hasn't. They were great for BMX Freestyle tricks that can't be done without them

[@CarolMatzPiano]

This is fantastic... thanks so much RJ! I overhauled a coaster brake a few months ago and it took me a LONG time to sort out what was going on. (Wish I had this video then!) The cutaway view is brilliant... thank you!

[@leestimson12]

Me too a couple months ago. And once you get the parts greased up for re-assembly they are so slick and messy my I was getting grease on everything including the computer with the hub diagram on it. I did a Huffy with a Shimano hub and a Bendix on a Schwinn a few days later. Now i'm watching for another one to rebuild. I'm hooked!

[@charredskeleton]

So many parts yet SO reliable. Thanks for putting this together.

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

Not that many parts.

[@MrDaryca]

Fascinating, I never thought it was such a sophisticated mechanism. I wonder who invented it.

[@snow5772]

I did

[@85set05]

Famous mechanic Mike Hunt.

[@bradleyhohner8775]

Elijah T. Coaster is the father of the modern braking mechanism bearing his name. It was patented in June of 1918 in Erie, Pennsylvania.

[@philipivanov1]

Its not sophisticated at all, the princip is very simple, inventing it was the hard part

[@CarlosJoseMunez88]

I think it was Harry Pond Townsend back in 1898.

[@leelemarc2839]

This video is awesome! The inner workings of a 3-mode coaster brake hub are brilliant.

[@happylittlecampers5855]

Best video about coaster brakes. Recently purchased a bike for my wife and she hates the coaster brakes. This video explains how they work which will now allow me to disable them and install a hand brake for her. Keep up then informative videos.

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

I would change wheels if you are going to do that.

[@ThisTimeTheWorld]

The best solution is to leave the hub just loose enough the brake doesn't instantly engage (more room to unscrew the driver before shoes hit drum), and use a front hand brake. You can also remove the brake shoes but you need to add suitable washers and retain the retarder spring to keep functionality. It's better to get a freewheel hub equipped wheel.

[@jeffreykennedy5956]

Greatest video ever! 67 yrs old and have no clue how my dumb bike stops . Can rebuild many motor cycles

[@Bikes-with-Ben]

Thank you, I was trying to reason in my head how the free hub would know the difference between coasting and pedaling backwards, but I was thinking of it in terms of a modern multi speed free wheel and didn’t consider it being internal to the hub itself. Really neat mechanisms at work there!

[@tomlynaghsr8752]

RJ. I thank you so much for your videos. I recently got back into bicycling after many years. Immediately before this pandemic I acquired a 70 something Raleigh single speed coaster brake bicycle. My first thought was" ah what a piece of garbage" but after further inspection my thoughts quickly changed to "what a well made bicycle to have lasted this long and with minimal wear and tear." And now that brings me to you. Along with my new found admiration of this old road bike came the rebuilding and maintenance all of which I was able to do with your videos as a guide. I have seen other videos out there but to me yours are the best. You are very thorough and don't leave out any little parts other people might think unnecessary . Again thank you. I will bike well into my golden years thanks to you and this old bike

[@kenwiberg6517]

I remember having two distinct types of coaster brakes - one was like your drum brake depicted here, and one was an internal disk brake similar to a motorcycle clutch - alternating disks would either spline to the hub and the "in-between" disks would have flats that "spline" them to the axle - would love to see that again.......... it's been over 50 years since I worked on them ........

[@destinedl3]

I think im trying to fix that right now lmao

[@doctorbobdc]

Wow, this is so good. I have always wondered what goes on inside those hubs. Thanks so much.

[@djperry6787]

I appreciate your help. Got it fixed. Needed to know the fundamental concept of what was in the hub, and how it worked. The cut away hub in the video was a great idea!

[@ABCD-eg5ky]

Wow. I had no idea this mechanism was so complex! Thanks for the thorough explanation!!

[@thebiggerman6975]

Rode a Schwinn hundreds of miles as a kid in the 60s always wondered what was going on in there,that setup never failed me ,thanks for explaining the workings

[@greggoode3450]

Thanks for breaking this down for us! The coaster brake is really amazing. Ingenious, complicated, takes a lot of abuse, all those slamming skids we used to do. And so low-maintenance!!

[@fishface20077002]

Very clear and comprehensive video, I just bought a coaster to fit on an old BMX having had one as a kid. As others have said, the cut away casing, being able to see how it works when assembled, is what makes it a stand out video. Thanks.

[@samsquid9138]

THANK YOU SO MUCH! I am a bike mechanic in eastern NC, and for the first time in 10 years, I needed to service one of these. I guess you could say that they tend to last a while.

[@rjcote45]

I'm 68 YO and I ditched my "kids" coaster brake bike when I was around 12 for what was then called a "10 Speed racer". I became a bike mechanic on "expensive"10 then 12 then 14 then 16 then 18 and then 20 speed bikes for quite some time. Also the equivalent when a triple front chain ring is included. I can lace and true my own wheels but haven't done that much in nearly 20 years. BLAH BLAH BLAH! However, I never worked on a coaster hub since I gave those things up decades ago. So thankful for your tutorial. Very clear and excellent. And amazingly intelligent and effective technology. Reminds me when I saw an historic turn of the century chainless railroad bike with a drive shaft inside the chain stay.

[@merkridge8780]

I had no idea how it all worked. All I knew was if that brake arm somehow disengaged, you didn't have breaks. The ingenuity that went into this is incredible! Great breakdown. Thank you for sharing and solving a longtime mystery for me.

[@lazurm]

you didn't have BRAKES.

[@StonesAndSand]

You're an excellent teacher! I've ridden my good share of bikes in the past fifty years. I always wondered how the brakes work.

[@markw4206]

Ingenious device. As a kid I rode a bike with a coaster brake and never thought twice about how it worked, it all felt so smooth and natural. If I understand correctly, one of the Wright brothers invented the first version of these.

[@MrHidibo]

I had one on a bike as a child and as an adult now always wondered how it worked, as an mechanic of over 30 years you have satisfied a real need to know and truly a great explanation or the all the parts and how they work and demonstration thank you

[@barrysimmons7408]

I pulled one apart when I was a kid but all the parts went everywhere and it never ran again. Cool to see what was happening I have always wanted to know!

[@hairlessharescrambler56]

I done the same as a kid with my mongoose motomag 2's luckily since they didn't work over the last 35 years they hung in my dads barn and I just recently got them out and fixed them and they're like new

[@russwentz3957]

Thank you for the excellent description of the coaster brake assembly and operation! Just what I was needing to know.

[@JimHancock]

I woke up one day and wondered how hub gears and hub breaks worked..... so I discovered it here and other places... much more complex then I imagined as a kid...... coaster breaks are remarkable effective.... amazing considering how little leverage they have inside a 26 or so inch wheel...... great demonstration btw.....

[@K33p1TS1mpL]

Very informative, spent all my youth till I got a drivers license on a bike. Never care to know how they works ... they just did and saved me from getting killed many a times.

[@lena19191]

Very well explained, thank you . As kids these never failed unless the chain came off 😵 other wise very good invention and super reliable for years . Btw , they do heat up extremely hot on a long down hill ride , but seam to still work fine after wards

[@lazurm]

Wow, that heating up never happens to me. I just don't brake while going down hills.

[@LauriAP]

Thank you for demonstration. Looks very simple and robust, as old bicycles are, no electric, no complicated gearing.

[@rstrac2]

I always figured that it was a drum break, but had no idea what it looked like or how it worked. Rode coaster break bikes a lot as a kid. Thanks.

[@konstantintomilin1826]

It was a complete mystery for me of how a coaster brake works and now I know it! Thank you the Bike Guy!

[@damienduddy8893]

What a fantastic surprise! Searching for this exact topic and find a video from RJ. Couldn't ask for better explainer videos!

[@maeannsembrano5785]

Now that I'm old, I miss those amazing vintage bicycle mechanisms.... the foot brake and the 3-speed internal hub.

[@dirtroadfarmsjimmideanreen2458]

Great video RJ!!! You have answered the Coaster Hub question that has eluded me for 30+ years.... To Brake or Not to Brake,., That Was the Question!!! Thank you!!! Jim.

[@johnyarmolovich3783]

Tried working on one last night and couldn't quite get how it works. Your explanation was very clear and thorough and I should have this together in no time thanks to you excellent video.

[@austingode]

Just rebuilding my first coaster brake … it’s different but the concept as you say is the same . Cool mechanism, thanks RJ

[@ramongarciano569]

the best explanation and visuals on how these things work. pretty advance for the time it was mostly used.

[@kentselders1111]

50 years old and I finally know how that works! Great demo!!

[@aseq2]

Thanks, this was helpful...i was replacing one of the ball bearings, but I didn't have any experience nor the correct tools, only a pipe wrench. Used the brake arm to loosen up the thing, and then this video helped me put it back together.

[@powaytheband]

Thank you for posting. Always wondered how those worked

[@victorvillarongoarce674]

Very nicely done . You really took the mystery of how all those parts do inside the coaster brake. Thank you for the well made vedeo.

[@laurahankins3502]

Thank you!! I'm working on a similar coaster break currently and this was incredibly helpful. That cut-away, wow! 🤯

[@jackcoelho3907]

Wow, you've demystified a something that I've wondered about for years. Thanks, very helpful. I'm restoring an old single speed Shwinn and I think I'll just lube the coaster brake and leave well enough alone.

[@craigmonteforte1478]

Pretty slick video THANKYOU I’m 57 years old and have wondered since I was a kid honestly I didn’t think it was as sophisticated although it is a very reliable system the cut away was a nice touch now I’m trying to figure out other uses for the system

[@carlofirpo3006]

Excellent explanation, and the cutaway made how it operates simply obvious.

[@rideoncollective4170]

Thank you RJ I learnt a lot. Coaster brakes are often found on kids bikes so as a bicycle mechanic these are what I consider VIP cutomers as such a deeper understanding of the mechanisms involved is invaluable.

[@reyreyes222]

Ride On Collective they're on a whole bunch of beach cruisers too.

[@fishface20077002]

And a lot of the best pro freestyle BMX bikes back in the day!!

[@AlienLivesMatter]

Commonplace on Dutch bikes

[@sticknotfire]

I loved this video. Super educational. I recently became a bike tech at a local Dick's sporting goods thanks to your videos. Hopefully someday soon I can move up to the local LBS. Thanks RJ!

[@HobbsBhipp]

Thanks, answered a decades-old question I've always had; interesting brake concept.

[@theloniousm4337]

Haha. Is there anything you haven't fixed or done a video on? This is fantastic. I have imagined in my head how that braking mechanism worked since riding a single speed back in the late 60's / early 70's. (and, no, my imagined brake mechanism wasn't even close to how it actually works) Yes, Coaster is what it was called - I knew there was a name but damned if I could remember it. I am still impressed by the ingenuity of the person(s) that invented that back in the day. I'm going to try googling who/when that free wheel hub and coaster brake was invented. Damn fine engineering there and probably wasn't an engineer, just some guy with incredible mechanical smarts in a small shop.

[@diegojaviersalinas]

My very first bike came with this system and I loved it, although I never learned how they work, thanks for the video.

[@anticipationwaves2952]

Since I was a kid, I took apart the coaster brake to clean and grease up the components and I saw what this video showed but I never knew how it all worked until now! XD

[@that70sschwinn]

Nice demonstration...

[@Seth-mu3wo]

Very cool video, and easy to understand. I'm an engineer that just likes to learn how things work. Great explanation.

[@wrightflyer7855]

That's a neat cutaway and great explanation of how the Bendix 70 works. I was in the bike business from 1972 until the early '80s and built my city bike using the Sachs Torpedo 3 speed coaster brake hub, which was beautifully polished on the inside, even where it didn't need to be. Also had a cantilever frame bike with the New Departure nickel plated coaster hub and the disc alignment tool for reassembly. Cool memories those are!

[@slowjustslowinternet]

ive been slamming on the brakes on my bike for like 7 years and yet it still has the same amount of stopping power. amazing.

[@donaldnitsche6522]

Great video , my first bike was a red Columbia in 1950 , basic one speed with coaster brake - always wondered how coasting and braking translated into the parts inside the hub - the inventor(s) was ingenious !!

[@axiomaddict]

Excellent video. I’ve always wondered about the blood and guts of a hub. This helps!

[@MrDmagic88]

Incredible! I never realized just how complex bikes are!

[@ThisTimeTheWorld]

Thanks for the neat demo. I like running a coaster brake and fairly low gear, and a v brake. I ride xc and gravel. Trails with rolling elevation changes are a hoot.

[@liboy9844]

Always wondered how they work...thanks for your effort to explain it.

[@daffaakbar]

Thanks for the, hands down, very amazing insight. I am thinking of grabbing or even building another fixie after a long decade of not really cycling. Think I'll come back to your channel very often! 😁

[@AmazingChinaToday]

There is a 4th coaster brake state: rolling backwards, where the pedals do not rotate. Great for BMX tricks and roling backwards for 100 feet.

[@jjohnny424]

Very intriguing, as a kid I took them apart and I always wondered how they work. Thanks for the great video!

[@MrBurtonPE]

Never knew such an annoying thing I hated as a kid and now an adult was SOO complicated! wow, I learned something today. Thanks!

[@wordreet]

Great vid my dude, thanx for uploading! I just took my Electra Classic's back wheel to a local bike shop for them to de-brake it. I live in the UK and have been used to having two brake levers. I tried the back pedal brake and hated it. UK bicycle law require front and rear brakes on all bicycles. I'll be using caliper brakes from now on.

[@dirge187]

I've rebuild several hubs but it's really cool to see it in action with the cutaway

[@raulg.6209]

Great demonstration! I own a few vintage Schwinns with this exact system, some single speed and others two, three speeds.They are really smooth and work fantastic. It’s awesome how you cut the hub to see all the internals at work. Thanks for making this video. Great job. 👌

[@BEEBEE159]

The coaster brake is a really cool invention. I have a beach cruiser with a coaster brake. It really works well with very little maintenance required. Just clean and re-grease once in a while.

[@thetrumpnewsnetwork7503]

The best explanation that I've seen on KZbin by far.

[@ihikefar]

Love the cut away action. More please.

[@TheLoobis]

Thanks RJ. I'm fixing a beach cruiser and the break ended up being more work than expected.

[@JWKessler]

I just had one of these apart this afternoon and was trying to understand how it worked. This one has several balls in one bearing all pitted and non-round. I ordered replacements from Amazon. Now I’ll be better able to reassemble this mechanism.

[@mhaskins3769]

Fantastic video thanks for the great production!

[@darwinskeeper421]

Coaster brakes are truly underrated. They may not perform as well as modern V-brakes but they just keep on working. When I was a kid I used to beat the hell out of the little Schwinn Stingray knockoff bikes and while I've had problems with a few parts of those bikes, the coaster brakes never gave me any trouble, never required any maintenance or adjustment. In my first few months with my new Townie, I have done more brake maintenance than I had done in all of my years with coaster brakes.

[@kaspervestergaard2383]

Dics brakes are the worst for me. Nothing but trouble. Roller brakes is my new go to.

[@shujin7024]

thank you so much for the nice work, my friend and I just watched your entire collection of video on Coaster Brake and we still didn't knew how it worked. This video helped a lot with that. Thanks a bunch keep up the good work. Much love from Canada !!!

[@DanielAPiper]

Excellent video! Incredibly creative, effective, instructive, and HELPFUL! Thank you!

[@peterabramsson5425]

Wow! Thanks! This was so useful to me when I fixed my old Crescent bike.🙏🙂

[@moi7748]

I was in the Netherlands last week and most bikes I saw are equipped with these. I wondered how it works, and it's pretty ingenious.

[@adrianotero7963]

Had a schwinn with a banana seat and a rear mag wheel in the 1970's had this type of brake. ...was absolutely great.....

[@MAsWorld1]

Hugely helpful! I’m taking one apart tomorrow that slips when in “pedal” mode, it’s on an antique Harley.

[@josephvalenzi7791]

Fantastic explanation!! Thank you so much. Also, I don't think I've ever seen a video with 100 thumbs up and NO thumbs down, let alone 6.3K thumbs up and no thumbs down. Wow.

[@robertausdenmoore5418]

I’m working on such a bike now and noted to someone that there’s a whole lot go8ng on in that hub. Thanks for the explanation.

[@antbankzbruh]

Wow great explanation and video. Never thought about it but amazing how something I thought was so simple but had multiple moving parts actually works

[@ROBinJVILLE]

Fantastic video! Was always curious how it worked

[@rickmayabolis]

I had a coaster bike that I rode all winter in Montreal. A ton of black ice very often. Felt like I had so much more control than my city hybrid. I loved it so much I rode it into the ground RIP. I just built a new one for my new winter beater out of spare parts. Super as winter bikes. I might restore the hand brake. but didn't use it on my last one

[@johnacord5664]

I have always wondered exactly how a coaster brake worked. Genius. People are getting back to basics. The freewheel and derailleur can be one big pain. That system is exposed to dirt and damage. I have gained much more respect for this 122 year old braking and drive system. The only drawback is chain comes off, no brakes. That happened when I was ten. After that scary episode, I put a front brake on all coaster brake bikes I have ridden. I make sure that chain is tight. I finally figured how the heat is dissipated from the hub. The spokes act as the fins of a heat sink in your electronics. I might work some heat sink compound in where the spokes join the hub.

[@BenHonjok]

I was searching for the little dent inside the brake and I saw it on the gear-side of the brake (right-side). I wish you mentioned it but I won't be guessing anymore. thanks!

[@robertread4644]

Thanks for the video. I had a Schwinn two speed bike growing up and it never broke. Now I know how it worked.

[@aceofspades02]

now I understood, why it doesn't last long! The clutch system, is like a "receipt for stripping"! (thanks so much for this tear down and detailed explanation!)

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

These things last for many years!

[@kaspervestergaard2383]

It does last long tho.