converting freewheel to freehub - do I need freewheel removal tool?

[Veggie]

I have a freewheel setup that I am converting to a cassette freehub. Of
course, this means that I will be doing a hub swap.

Can I leave the freewheel on the freewheel hub? I prefer to do this so
that I don't have to get a freewheel removal tool. The price of the
tool isn't too bad, but with shipping it gets up there. I guess what is
really getting to me is that the freewheel tool will be used exactly
once. After that, it will never get used again. A tool used only one
time makes it infinitely more expensive :O

I'm thinking that I can wiggle the spokes off the freewheel hub with the
freewheel still installed. Is this a bad plan? The freewheel is a 14-28.

 

[Rick]

Veggie wrote:
> I have a freewheel setup that I am converting to a cassette freehub. Of
> course, this means that I will be doing a hub swap.
>
> Can I leave the freewheel on the freewheel hub? I prefer to do this so
> that I don't have to get a freewheel removal tool. The price of the
> tool isn't too bad, but with shipping it gets up there. I guess what is
> really getting to me is that the freewheel tool will be used exactly
> once. After that, it will never get used again. A tool used only one
> time makes it infinitely more expensive :O
>
> I'm thinking that I can wiggle the spokes off the freewheel hub with the
> freewheel still installed. Is this a bad plan? The freewheel is a 14-28.

A) Go to your LBS and try to work out a removal.

B) Buy new spokes, cut out the old spokes.

- rick

 

[Threeducks]

Veggie wrote:
> I have a freewheel setup that I am converting to a cassette freehub. Of
> course, this means that I will be doing a hub swap.
>
> Can I leave the freewheel on the freewheel hub? I prefer to do this so
> that I don't have to get a freewheel removal tool. The price of the
> tool isn't too bad, but with shipping it gets up there. I guess what is
> really getting to me is that the freewheel tool will be used exactly
> once. After that, it will never get used again. A tool used only one
> time makes it infinitely more expensive :O
>
> I'm thinking that I can wiggle the spokes off the freewheel hub with the
> freewheel still installed. Is this a bad plan? The freewheel is a 14-28.

Take it to a shop and for a few dollars they will remove it for you. If
you don't plan on reusing the spokes, you can just cut them and take the
whole thing out that way. If you want to reuse the spokes, then the
freewheel has to come off.

 

[Jasper Janssen]

On Mon, 19 Sep 2005 22:59:19 GMT, Veggie <[email protected]> wrote:

>I have a freewheel setup that I am converting to a cassette freehub. Of
>course, this means that I will be doing a hub swap.
>
>Can I leave the freewheel on the freewheel hub? I prefer to do this so
>that I don't have to get a freewheel removal tool. The price of the
>tool isn't too bad, but with shipping it gets up there. I guess what is
>really getting to me is that the freewheel tool will be used exactly
>once. After that, it will never get used again. A tool used only one
>time makes it infinitely more expensive :O
>
>I'm thinking that I can wiggle the spokes off the freewheel hub with the
>freewheel still installed. Is this a bad plan? The freewheel is a 14-28.

Won't work. Your LBS will remove the freewheel for ya for a few bucks,
much less than the cost of the tool. Are you very sure you want to keep
the spokes? They might not be the correct length for your new hub, and
besides, reusing spokes tends to be a bad idea. If you don't wanna reuse
the spokes, simply cut them. I personally use a cheap boltcutter on a
crossing of 2 spokes at once, makes it very fast.


Jasper

 

[Fred Clydesdale]

In article <[email protected]>,
Jasper Janssen <[email protected]> wrote:

> Are you very sure you want to keep the spokes? They might
> not be the correct length for your new hub, and besides,
> reusing spokes tends to be a bad idea.

oo, what you said. you better hope that didn't wake up grampaw,
cause he'll come and smite you with a copy of "the bicycle wheel".

 

[Jasper Janssen]

On Tue, 20 Sep 2005 09:55:05 GMT, Fred Clydesdale <[email protected]>
wrote:
>In article <[email protected]>,
> Jasper Janssen <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> Are you very sure you want to keep the spokes? They might
>> not be the correct length for your new hub, and besides,
>> reusing spokes tends to be a bad idea.
>
>oo, what you said. you better hope that didn't wake up grampaw,
>cause he'll come and smite you with a copy of "the bicycle wheel".

It's one thing to change rims on an existing wheel using existing spokes,
but respoking to a new hub and a new rim is more effort than it's worth.


Jasper

 

[David L. Johnson]

On Mon, 19 Sep 2005 22:59:19 +0000, Veggie wrote:

> I have a freewheel setup that I am converting to a cassette freehub. Of
> course, this means that I will be doing a hub swap.
>
> Can I leave the freewheel on the freewheel hub? I prefer to do this so
> that I don't have to get a freewheel removal tool. The price of the
> tool isn't too bad, but with shipping it gets up there. I guess what is
> really getting to me is that the freewheel tool will be used exactly
> once. After that, it will never get used again. A tool used only one
> time makes it infinitely more expensive :O
>
> I'm thinking that I can wiggle the spokes off the freewheel hub with the
> freewheel still installed. Is this a bad plan? The freewheel is a 14-28.

As has been discussed in another thread, it depends on the freewheel.
Most freewheels will allow you to remove the sprockets by simply
unscrewing them --- but, they are tight, and you need two chainwhips to do
that. The chainwhips will cost more than the freewheel remover tool, but
they have more uses, and you can make your own if you are so inclined.

More-or-less modern freewheels have the bigger sprockets held on with a
splined shaft, similar to freehub cassette sprockets. The smallest one or
two will be threaded. Remove them and the rest slide off.

It will be easier, though, to get the tool and pull the freewheel.
Instructions are widely available on the Web, but are not obvious to the
uninitiated.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | "It doesn't get any easier, you just go faster." --Greg LeMond
_`\(,_ |
(_)/ (_) |

 

[David L. Johnson]

On Mon, 19 Sep 2005 23:57:46 +0000, Jasper Janssen wrote:

> Won't work. Your LBS will remove the freewheel for ya for a few bucks,
> much less than the cost of the tool.

True, though I had that done once, and it was a disaster. The supposed
mechanics in a lot of shops have never seen a freewheel, and have no idea
how to remove it.

> Are you very sure you want to keep
> the spokes? They might not be the correct length for your new hub, and
> besides, reusing spokes tends to be a bad idea.

Actually, it tends to be a good idea to re-use spokes. They are
already stress-relieved. Unless damaged, spokes will outlast several
rims, if you can find replacement rims of the same diameter.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | Anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President
_`\(,_ | should on no account be allowed to do the job. -- Douglas Adams
(_)/ (_) |

 

[David L. Johnson]

On Tue, 20 Sep 2005 10:57:15 +0000, Jasper Janssen wrote:

> It's one thing to change rims on an existing wheel using existing spokes,
> but respoking to a new hub and a new rim is more effort than it's worth.

The only difference is the small amount of time it takes to re-lace the
hub. Compared with tensioning and truing a wheel, it's nothing.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | What is objectionable, and what is dangerous about extremists is
_`\(,_ | not that they are extreme, but that they are intolerant.
(_)/ (_) | --Robert F. Kennedy

 

[[email protected]]

Veggie wrote:
> I have a freewheel setup that I am converting to a cassette freehub. Of
> course, this means that I will be doing a hub swap.
>
> Can I leave the freewheel on the freewheel hub? I prefer to do this so
> that I don't have to get a freewheel removal tool. The price of the
> tool isn't too bad, but with shipping it gets up there. I guess what is
> really getting to me is that the freewheel tool will be used exactly
> once. After that, it will never get used again. A tool used only one
> time makes it infinitely more expensive :O
>
> I'm thinking that I can wiggle the spokes off the freewheel hub with the
> freewheel still installed. Is this a bad plan? The freewheel is a 14-28.

I don't think you'll get the spokes off the freewheel side. I've never
been able to do it with a cog as big as a 28, if at all- sometimes with
a smaller large cog I've been able to thread them through a hole in the
cog, but it's not really worth the effort.

Since you say that you would only use the tool once, the implication is
that you don't intend to ever use it again, so buy the tool, remove the
freewheel, sell the freewheel, hub and tool on ebay, and re-use the
spokes if they fit and are worth re-using.

In fact, you might try buying the tool on ebay if you have the time to
look for it and wait out an auction; you could likely resell it for
about what you paid for it. Look for a seller who would ship it for
postage only instead of UPS+"handling".

If the hub and freewheel are little more than junk, it's likely the
spokes are too, so just cut them and throw it all in the trash. If they
were butted stainless spokes, I would try to save them even if they
don't fit because they're not that cheap and you might need them at
some point. Bicycling hardware costs will expand to the size of your
budget no matter how large if you let it, so no sense in wasting usable
equipment.

 

[Werehatrack]

On Mon, 19 Sep 2005 22:59:19 GMT, Veggie <[email protected]> wrote:

>I have a freewheel setup that I am converting to a cassette freehub. Of
>course, this means that I will be doing a hub swap.
>
>Can I leave the freewheel on the freewheel hub?

Sure, if you're going to cut the spokes and replace them. You can't
remove the drive-side spokes with the freewheel in place.

> I prefer to do this so
>that I don't have to get a freewheel removal tool. The price of the
>tool isn't too bad, but with shipping it gets up there.

Have you asked your local bike shop what they would charge to take the
freewheel off for you?

> I guess what is
>really getting to me is that the freewheel tool will be used exactly
>once. After that, it will never get used again. A tool used only one
>time makes it infinitely more expensive :O

Not by comparison to the alternatives.

>I'm thinking that I can wiggle the spokes off the freewheel hub with the
>freewheel still installed. Is this a bad plan? The freewheel is a 14-28.

It's not just a bad plan, it's one that one work. But by all means,
don't take my word for it; try it and see.
--
Typoes are a feature, not a bug.
Some gardening required to reply via email.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

 

[Bob]

On Tue, 20 Sep 2005 14:09:35 GMT, Werehatrack
<[email protected]> wrote:

>Have you asked your local bike shop what they would charge to take the
>freewheel off for you?

Or just call a couple LBS's and ask about buying a freewheel tool.
Most of the shops around me sell the common ones for $9 - less than
the cost of an Ebay purchase with shipping. Shops usually charge
$5 in my experience to do this for you so you are halfway there. If
you buy some stuff at the shop they might throw in the removal for
free.

Word of warning since you seem new at this: do not cut the spokes
before removing the freewheel.

 

[[email protected]]

Bob wrote:
> On Tue, 20 Sep 2005 14:09:35 GMT, Werehatrack
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >Have you asked your local bike shop what they would charge to take the
> >freewheel off for you?
>
> Or just call a couple LBS's and ask about buying a freewheel tool.
> Most of the shops around me sell the common ones for $9 - less than
> the cost of an Ebay purchase with shipping.

The same, actually, for a Park thin wall brand new, unless you figure
in gas and sales tax.

 

[Jasper Janssen]

On Tue, 20 Sep 2005 09:22:31 -0400, "David L. Johnson"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>On Tue, 20 Sep 2005 10:57:15 +0000, Jasper Janssen wrote:
>
>> It's one thing to change rims on an existing wheel using existing spokes,
>> but respoking to a new hub and a new rim is more effort than it's worth.
>
>The only difference is the small amount of time it takes to re-lace the
>hub. Compared with tensioning and truing a wheel, it's nothing.

You still have to separate out left and right/trailing and leading and
relace them in the same pattern, unless you want to bend the spoke heads
again.

Jasper

 

[Jasper Janssen]

On Tue, 20 Sep 2005 09:17:43 -0400, "David L. Johnson"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>More-or-less modern freewheels have the bigger sprockets held on with a
>splined shaft, similar to freehub cassette sprockets. The smallest one or
>two will be threaded. Remove them and the rest slide off.

Some modern shimano HG freewheels are held on with a lockring, just like
cassettes.

Jasper

 

[[email protected]]

Jasper Janssen wrote:
> On Tue, 20 Sep 2005 09:17:43 -0400, "David L. Johnson"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >More-or-less modern freewheels have the bigger sprockets held on with a
> >splined shaft, similar to freehub cassette sprockets. The smallest one or
> >two will be threaded. Remove them and the rest slide off.
>
> Some modern shimano HG freewheels are held on with a lockring, just like
> cassettes.

Apparently SunRace HG-clone freewheels as well, but I haven't figure
out how to get the lockring off either of them. Maybe with freewheel
vice and a hammer and punch, but there doesn't seem to be an available
lockring wrench for either and they are different. I once had a
conversation with SunRace USA about their's. They said there is no
tool, it's not designed to be disassembled- in other words, there is a
tool in the factory to spin the ring on but none to take it off.

 

[[email protected]]

Jasper Janssen wrote:
> On Tue, 20 Sep 2005 09:17:43 -0400, "David L. Johnson"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >More-or-less modern freewheels have the bigger sprockets held on with a
> >splined shaft, similar to freehub cassette sprockets. The smallest one or
> >two will be threaded. Remove them and the rest slide off.
>
> Some modern shimano HG freewheels are held on with a lockring, just like
> cassettes.

Jumping onto what seems to be the last post: The OP might need to get
the old FW off before he can see if the old spokes are not shaved from
a loose chain.

Another option: sell the wheel complete. Some "vintage" stuff is worth
a few bucks on ebay or various "sell" lists. Funding contribution to:
new spokes, new hub, new cogs, new chain, new rim, new rim strip, new
tube, new tire, not messing any further with the old stuff... sounds
like a winner from here.
--D-y

 

[Veggie]

[email protected] wrote:

>Jasper Janssen wrote:
>
>
>>On Tue, 20 Sep 2005 09:17:43 -0400, "David L. Johnson"
>><[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>>More-or-less modern freewheels have the bigger sprockets held on with a
>>>splined shaft, similar to freehub cassette sprockets. The smallest one or
>>>two will be threaded. Remove them and the rest slide off.
>>>
>>>
>>Some modern shimano HG freewheels are held on with a lockring, just like
>>cassettes.
>>
>>
>
>Jumping onto what seems to be the last post: The OP might need to get
>the old FW off before he can see if the old spokes are not shaved from
>a loose chain.
>
>Another option: sell the wheel complete. Some "vintage" stuff is worth
>a few bucks on ebay or various "sell" lists. Funding contribution to:
>new spokes, new hub, new cogs, new chain, new rim, new rim strip, new
>tube, new tire, not messing any further with the old stuff... sounds
>like a winner from here.
>--D-y
>
>
Thanks for net advice. Seems hub swapping without removing the
freewheel is a bad, bad idea.

Instead, I will try to build up a new wheel from scratch. As posters
have guessed, I am a newbie at wheel building. By building a new wheel
on the side, I can continue to ride while wheel building at a newbie's
snail pace.

 

[Jasper Janssen]

On Tue, 20 Sep 2005 23:55:08 GMT, Veggie <[email protected]> wrote:

>Thanks for net advice. Seems hub swapping without removing the
>freewheel is a bad, bad idea.

Not so much a bad idea, just not going to work. You won't get the drive
side spokes off through a 28, it's hard enough getting DS spokes on and
off a mid-size-flange sturmey archer wheel without removing the 18. Often
easier to just pull the cog.

Jasper

 

[Werehatrack]

On 20 Sep 2005 08:25:43 -0700, [email protected] wrote:

>
>Bob wrote:
>> On Tue, 20 Sep 2005 14:09:35 GMT, Werehatrack
>> <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>> >Have you asked your local bike shop what they would charge to take the
>> >freewheel off for you?
>>
>> Or just call a couple LBS's and ask about buying a freewheel tool.
>> Most of the shops around me sell the common ones for $9 - less than
>> the cost of an Ebay purchase with shipping.
>
>The same, actually, for a Park thin wall brand new, unless you figure
>in gas and sales tax.

No gas if you ride to the lbs...
--
Typoes are a feature, not a bug.
Some gardening required to reply via email.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.