Bicycle Mechanics - Freewheel Trouble

Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.



PDA

View Full Version : Freewheel Trouble

afilado
08-07-08, 03:08 PM
Howdy folks:

I posted also in C&V but I think it's OK to repeat here. Thanks for your help and understanding.

I have a very nice Suntuor hub threaded onto a nice 7 speed Suntour freewheel. My problem is that they are not mounted to a rim and I want to separate them.

How can I remove the freewheel from a loose hub without damaging either?

tellyho
08-07-08, 04:39 PM
Good question. Every method I use relies on the wheel as lever arm.
BCRider
08-07-08, 06:44 PM
For working on "naked" hubs I made up a block of wood as a clamp.

I drilled holes in it that mimic the hub size but are just a hair on the smaller side. Then I cut the block in half lengthwise through the center of the hole. To use it I clamp the hub into the two halves using my big burly bench vise and dial the snot out of the handle. That grabs the hub well enough to allow for MOST high torque needs. But a freewheel that is slightly sticky may well be outside that limit.

It's worth a try though.

Also be sure to use the trick of clamping the freewheel tool firmly in place using an axle or QR skewer. Just crack it and then back off the clamping torque, Repeat one more time just to be sure then remove the clamping parts.

smiller
08-08-08, 07:14 AM
Go to your LBS and ask if they have a trashed wheel around, then just thread 6 or 8 spokes onto the back side of the hub. you don't need them true or tight, just roughly evenly spaced.
LarDasse74
08-08-08, 07:59 AM
Above is the best solution - lace an old wheel partially into the back side of the hub and put your freewheel tool in the vise. Use a QR to keep the freewheel tool in place - the suntour 4 prong (old ones are 2 prong) splines are notorious for stripping during removal.
afilado
08-08-08, 11:59 AM
Thanks to everyone.
wrk101
08-08-08, 04:45 PM
+1 Sweet talk your preferred LBS and they will probably remove it for free, or very close to free. Reward them with some routine business.
afilado
08-08-08, 06:21 PM
+1 Sweet talk your preferred LBS and they will probably remove it for free, or very close to free. Reward them with some routine business.

Thanks.

I've got some VERY stiff LBS's. They are not interested in old technology and a $10 item sale. Tragic but so.

Even though I do try very hard to spend a few hundred dollars a year on maintenance items with them, anyway, since I ride old steel, I am persona non grata.