Bicycle Mechanics - Have I killed my hub?

So I was trying to take apart a freewheel on my 80s Fuji with my friend's chainwhip and another homemade chainwhip. The cogs wouldn't budge no matter how much I tried, and I'm sure I was going in the right direction. Anyway, when I put the wheel back on, it was a little out of true. No problem, I must have put some pressure on one or two of the spokes. Then when I spun the wheel I noticed that my freewheel wobbles. It didn't do this before. So something's bent, and I don't know what, and I feel pretty stupid. Not that I haven't seen this on my BMX; it's just really annoying. What do you guys think? Is it the hub? Is it the freewheel? Should I not ride it? I don't have any money at all and this is currently the bike I'm getting around on. I'm going to go hang my head in shame now.

So I was trying to take apart a freewheel on my 80s Fuji with my friend's chainwhip and another homemade chainwhip. The cogs wouldn't budge no matter how much I tried, and I'm sure I was going in the right direction. Anyway, when I put the wheel back on, it was a little out of true. No problem, I must have put some pressure on one or two of the spokes. Then when I spun the wheel I noticed that my freewheel wobbles. It didn't do this before. So something's bent, and I don't know what, and I feel pretty stupid. Not that I haven't seen this on my BMX; it's just really annoying. What do you guys think? Is it the hub? Is it the freewheel? Should I not ride it? I don't have any money at all and this is currently the bike I'm getting around on. I'm going to go hang my head in shame now.

Actually most freewheels wobble a little bit, how much are we talking here?

Maybe like 1-2mm, I can't really even measure it, but it definitely didn't do that before. It doesn't do it when the wheel is stationary and I turn the cranks backwards, just when the wheel's spinning. So it's either the hub or the inside part of the freewheel. I can't really tell if the hub looks straight or not. I think I'm just going to pretend like nothing happened and hope for the best...

Is this a cassette or a freewheel? 1-2mm is pretty negligable for a freewheel... most freewheels I've worked on have 2-5mm probably. Cassettes however shouldn't really have any discernable wobble.

Yeah, it's an old-style freewheel that just threads on. I think it'll be fine, it's just a bit annoying. Kind of a Homer Simpson moment.

Since you have a freewheel a chainwhip is not neccesary. What you need is a freewheel removal tool, and a big crescent wrench. You could not get it off because you were holding it down with the chainwhip.
http://www.parktool.com/repair_help/FAQcogs.shtml

Hunter, I understand what you're saying, I've done that before. My goal was to actually take apart the freewheel (like remove the cogs from the freewheel). Supposedly it can be done... so I didn't want to remove the whole thing, which would have been easy; I just wanted to take it apart, which looks pretty hopeless.

Hunter, I understand what you're saying, I've done that before. My goal was to actually take apart the freewheel (like remove the cogs from the freewheel). Supposedly it can be done... so I didn't want to remove the whole thing, which would have been easy; I just wanted to take it apart, which looks pretty hopeless.

There is a lock/retaining ring that needs to removed prior to trying to cogs (if I remeber correctly) check this link http://www.parktool.com/repair_help/FAQcogs.shtml

In the image of the Suntour the slots are for the Frewheel Removal tool. The circles are for the Pin spanner to remove the retaining ring.

Also check Sheldon Browns page http://sheldonbrown.com/freewheels.html

Good luck!

It sounds like you may have bent the hub slightly by applying excessive force with the chain whips. So long as your shifting is OK you should be alright. By the way, according to Sheldon Brown, the smaller cogs should be right hand threaded with one or two of the larger cogs left hand threaded. Sinc eht freewheel was still on the hub, I assume you were trying to loosen the smallest cog which should have been turned counter-clockwise to remove.

BTW, there's probably no real reason to remove the cogs unless you happen to have some replacement cogs laying about. Otherwise, if there's a problem, it's probably easier to just replace the whole freewheel.

manboy, I tried the same thing with my freewheel...only it wasn't on the hub the the time. If it makes you feel any better, i couldn't get the damn cogs to budge either...