Road Cycling - How hard is to change freewheels?

Can it be done by oneself at home?

Or it needs special machinery and the power of three strong men?
I know that a proper tool is needed, but that is a need of "something" to hold the wheel while you struggle to unscrew the freewheel?

I also want to say that this forum is great, and i allways see someone who is self-suficcient with his/her bikes.

clarify - do you want to remove the cassette, that is, the cluster of gears on the rear wheel, or the actual freehub body, which is attached to the hub?

removing the cassette is easy and required only a chain whip and the appropriate lock ring removal tool. both of which cost about $12.

opening up the freewheel mechanism itself is more complex.

download chapter 25 of the barnett's manual from this thread for all the details:

http://bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=38747

I put the tool in my vise and turn the wheel.

clarify - do you want to remove the cassette, that is, the cluster of gears on the rear wheel, or the actual freehub body, which is attached to the hub?

removing the cassette is easy and required only a chain whip and the appropriate lock ring removal tool. both of which cost about $12.

opening up the freewheel mechanism itself is more complex.

download chapter 25 of the barnett's manual from this thread for all the details:

http://bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=38747

Thanks,

What i mean is take the freewheel(think is the cassette thing) out of the hub. I heard it´s very hard because the pedals action over the years screw the freewheel very strong.

ps.
I didn´t get the names yet, still working.

Look at those names over here:
Freewheel = Catraca.
Ringwheel = Coroa. (crown)
chainring = Corrente.
Hub = Cubo (Cube)
Derrailer = Cambio.

Can it be done by oneself at home?

Or it needs special machinery and the power of three strong men?
I know that a proper tool is needed, but that is a need of "something" to hold the wheel while you struggle to unscrew the freewheel?

I also want to say that this forum is great, and i allways see someone who is self-suficcient with his/her bikes.

Removing a spin-on freewheel is always an adventure.

As you know, you have to have the right freewheel remover tool. There's lots of them to match many different freewheel designs that have been used over the year. The next trick is to keep the freewheel remover in it's slots or splines. The easiest way to do this is to put the quick release on over the tool. Lastly, just screw it off. It'll take at least a 12 inch crescent wrench or, if you have a sturdy bench vise, you can chuck the tool into the vise and turn the whole wheel and tire to get it loose. It takes a good amount of torque to get one off.

It's times like this that remind me how much I like cassette hubs.

It sounds difficult from here.

Removing a spin-on freewheel is always an adventure.

....

It's times like this that remind me how much I like cassette hubs.


i broke a heavy-duty park chainwhip at my shop the other day trying to remove a crusty old sharkfinned cassette lockring (7-speed). i think i was using a 16" long chainwhip, and a 16" wrench, applying all of my body weight to the damn thing and then *SNAP* *PING* and then from the other mechanic, across the room, "OW, HEY WTF?!!?" me, lying on the floor, flabberghasted: "uh...i guess i broke the chain whip..."

that was an all-around bad day.

The best method is to put the freewheel removal tool in a vise, put the freewheel over the tool, then twist the whole wheel in a conterclockwise direction. You may need to soak the threads with a penatrating oil to help the project along. Don't worry about getting the penatrating oil in the hub. If you're replacing a worn freewheel, you should repack or replace the hub bearings while you have the freewheel off.

Thanks everybody.