Freewheel Removal

[Dewi]

Hi

I bought a Reebok Voyager Hybrid from Halfords in the summer, nice ali frame for a cheap bike but the components are rubbish.

The 7 speed 'no brand' screw on freewheel is knackered so I've got hold of a Shimano 34T Megarange thinking at least the hills will be a little easier. The spindle also seemed a little bent so I got a Cro Mo replacement ready to fit at the same time.

I've removed loads of freewheels over the last 30 years, I am lucky enough to have a bench vice to hold the removal tool but this one doesn't want to come off. The standard Shimano freewheel remover I've used for the last 25 years fits, but when pressure is applied it slips, some of the 'teeth' on the removal tool being slightly stripped. Ok, I think old tool so maybe time for a new one but trying on the Shimano freewheel on my MTB it still works fine and it seems a tight fit on the new one?

I think the it's the cheap freewheel that's the problem, I have used different style freewheel removers in the 80's but they've all been Shimano pattern since. I can't believe there's a pattern similar to Shimano but not the same, any one know different?

I've resorted to cutting a freewheel off with a hacksaw in the 80's, I am very tempted to get out the angle grinder if needed

 

[TheDoctor]

Can you use the QR to hold the tool in?

 

[Dewi]

Sorry, should have said its a solid spindle, not QR

The tool doesn't jump out, the 'teeth' don't grip the freewheel enough when pressure is applied

Cheers

 

[TheDoctor]

Bugger. No idea then

 

[swee'pea99]

Dare I ask...are you sure this is a freewheel and not a cassette? You say you bought it in the summer. Does anyone still make bikes with freewheels? Checkout Sheldon for the difference (the removal techniques are different).

 

[Cheule]

Yes they do Swee'pea, my '08 CBR was fitted with an 8 speed freewheel, and like the OP I couldn't remove it with the standard tools. Two months ago, the rim split so I just bought a whole new wheel - with a Shimano cassette this time

 

[swee'pea99]

Oh, ok. Well if it is a freewheel (and here's the Sheldon link I should've put in earlier, to check), then I suggest using the wheelnut to hold the remover in (so it can't slip), then attach spanner and give it a good sharp whack with a bloody great hammer. It's always worked for me!

 

[Dewi]

You say you bought it in the summer. Does anyone still make bikes with freewheels?

LOL, all the cheap bikes I've bought in recent years have them There's a large price hike moving up to the cassette bikes

Thanks

 

[Dewi]

I can't believe there's a pattern similar to Shimano but not the same, any one know different?

LBS tell me there's a freewheel that requires a removal tool similar to the standard Shimano/Park FR-1 - it slots in but won't engage enough to allow freewheel removal ...

 

[Dewi]

[quote name='swee'pea99' timestamp='1289609174' post='1466263']
I suggest using the wheelnut to hold the remover in (so it can't slip), then attach spanner and give it a good sharp whack with a bloody great hammer. It's always worked for me!
[/quote]

You've been lucky, I've always needed a vice. I do seem to get the freewheels on very, very tight - I've even stripped the thread on the hub off completely on one occasion.

I always use a little copper slip when fitting new freewheels as I think it helps a little.

Cheers

 

[MontyVeda]

I had a similar proble recently when fixing a friends bike. I've removed enough over the years but this one defeated me so I took to my LBS... they didn't even charge me

 

[PpPete]

If you wrap alumnium foil round the tool (and press it inbetween the splines) before you put it in will that fill out the difference ?

 

[Randochap]

Dynamite wrench.

 

[andrew_s]

Shimano cassette lockring removers and Shimano freewheel removers use the same spline pattern, but on the cassette remover the splines are 1mm high, and on the freewheel remover they are only 0.5mm high.
On actual Shimano kit the cassette lockring remover won't fit in a freewheel as the splines are too high, but if you've got "shimano compatible" it may be worth trying a lockring remover for fit (preferably one with long splines). Quite a lot of bike shops don't know the difference between the two removers, so it's not beyond the realms of possibility that someone making a no name freewheel could have used the wrong shimano spline.

 

[Dewi]

If you wrap alumnium foil round the tool (and press it inbetween the splines) before you put it in will that fill out the difference ?

LOL, the funny thing is I tried similar before my first post, wrapped the remover with wire wool, hammered it in but it still slipped.

Tried some turkey foil but, as with the wire wool, it just got mashed!