Recalcitrant Freewheel

Tony W said:

I am trying but failing to remove the freewheel from two wheels. I have the
right tools.

1. Am I right in assuming its a conventional thread so I should unwind it
anticlock?

2. How many gorillas tight should it be? They both seem to be an entire
jungle full. So far reasonably extreme measures have caused nothing to
happen.

3. Are there any recommended tricks -- i.e. where do I apply the heat /
plus gas?

TIA

T

The usual way is to clamp the tool in a bench vice, push the wheel down
hard onto the tool and then pull hard anticlockwise on the rim. It may
take two of you (especially if its a tandem freewheel which gets screwed
down really tight). Better to have the tyre on the rim to give you
something to get your hands round.

--
Tony

"Don't argue the matter, the difficulties will argue for themselves"
-W.S. Churchill

Tony W said:

I am trying but failing to remove the freewheel from two wheels. I have the
right tools.
2. How many gorillas tight should it be? They both seem to be an entire
jungle full. So far reasonably extreme measures have caused nothing to
happen.

There have been tales on rec.bicycles.tech of hubs breaking before the
freewheels come loose.
Just heating up/cooling may break the corrosion bond between the 2
surfaces (they tend to 'rust' together, the corrosion expanding as it
grows, making the thread even tighter).
Sheldon has some pointers on his site:
http://sheldonbrown.com/freewheels.html

Alan.
--
To reply by e-mail, change the ' + ' to 'plus'.
http://www.dvatc.co.uk - Off-road cycling in the North Midlands.

Tony W said:

I am trying but failing to remove the freewheel from two wheels. I have the
right tools.

[snip]

TIA

T

Put a pair of workmans or gardeners gloves on to protect your hands and
use a very large adjustable wrench. Make sure the freewheel tool is
seated in the freewheel splines (clean splines first) and that the wrench
is adjusted nice and tight and push smoothly but very hard. Best to stand
with the wheel upright on the floor against your knees and grab the spokes
with your left hand and push down on the wrench with the other.

If that fails, if you have a vice, put the tool in the vice pointing
toward the ceiling and fit the wheel to the tool and grab the wheel and
unscrew by turning the wheel.

Good luck

Bin

Tony W said:

I am trying but failing to remove the freewheel from two wheels. I have the
right tools.

1. Am I right in assuming its a conventional thread so I should unwind it
anticlock?

yes

Quoted message said:

2. How many gorillas tight should it be? They both seem to be an entire
jungle full. So far reasonably extreme measures have caused nothing to
happen.

One (fully grown male, hopping mad!)

Quoted message said:

3. Are there any recommended tricks -- i.e. where do I apply the heat /
plus gas?

make sure the wheel is properly spoked
Bolt the workbench with 5" vise to the floor
If the freewheel is [censored], dismantle it and heat the body. Cool down
completely. If this doesn't work take a slice of the freewheel with an
anglegrinder

--
---
Marten Gerritsen

INFOapestaartjeM-GINEERINGpuntNL
www.m-gineering.nl

bin said:

Tony W said:

I am trying but failing to remove the freewheel from two wheels. I have the
right tools.

[snip]

TIA

T

Put a pair of workmans or gardeners gloves on to protect your hands and
use a very large adjustable wrench. Make sure the freewheel tool is
seated in the freewheel splines (clean splines first) and that the wrench
is adjusted nice and tight and push smoothly but very hard. Best to stand
with the wheel upright on the floor against your knees and grab the spokes
with your left hand and push down on the wrench with the other.

If that fails, if you have a vice, put the tool in the vice pointing
toward the ceiling and fit the wheel to the tool and grab the wheel and
unscrew by turning the wheel.

Just do this one first. With some freewheels you need to put a clamping
nut on the back of the tool, especially the two pronged sort. Splined
ones shouldn't need this.

If you can't shift it with it in a vice I'd suggest it could be time
for a new wheel, but get a cassette hub next time.

...d

"m-gineering" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Tony W said:

I am trying but failing to remove the freewheel from two wheels. I have

the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

right tools.

snip

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

2. How many gorillas tight should it be? They both seem to be an

entire

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

jungle full. So far reasonably extreme measures have caused nothing to
happen.

One (fully grown male, hopping mad!)

Sounds about right -- assuming he was also a weight lifter on steroids.

snip

Thanks for the replies folks. Nice to know I'm not going completely mad :~)

T

Tony W said:

I am trying but failing to remove the freewheel from two wheels. I have the
right tools.

1. Am I right in assuming its a conventional thread so I should unwind it
anticlock?

Yes.

Quoted message said:

2. How many gorillas tight should it be? They both seem to be an entire
jungle full. So far reasonably extreme measures have caused nothing to
happen.

It's the pedalling that tightens it.

Quoted message said:

3. Are there any recommended tricks -- i.e. where do I apply the heat /
plus gas?

Sit on the wheel. Clamp the freewheel remover in with a QR or the axle
nut as appropriate. Attach the biggest adjustable spanner you can find
and whack it with a mallet.