rollsroyce

The long title pretty much sums it up. I have a freewheel (non cassette) rear hub. I have both wide range and narrow range freewheels. I'll probably be switching between the two quite a bit. Anyone have any tricks as far as what to use on the threads for easy removal after tightening from pedaling? Plain old grease? How about anti-seize? I've found that when I use grease, the freewheels are still extremely difficult to remove and I'm curious if theres anything better.

rmfnla

There is no such trick; you continually tighten a freewheel as you ride it.

One of the many reasons freewheels are obsolete.

Mothra

Just wrap two layers of teflon plumbing tape on the freewheel-threads on the hub in the tightening direction and you'll be fine.

MichaelW

Standard white lithium grease works as well as anything.
Do you use a bench vice to remove the freewheel? Put the tool in the vice , the hub on the tool and rotate using the tyres. No need for chain whips, skewers or wrenches.

HillRider

Grease works as well as anything. As noted, freewheels tighten automatically as you ride and if yor area is hilly, they can get REALLY tight. A BIG wrench or the bench vise technique recommended by MichaelW is the real answer.

roccobike

I used to have problems removing my freewheels. Then I tried a 1/2" breaker bar attached to my 6'2", 225lb, 14 year old son. Works every time and I feel no back strain at all!

CharlesC

I have used Never Seize brand goop on the threads of my freewheels for 40 years and have never had a problem unthreading one off the hub. I use a LARGE bench vice to hold the freewheel tool and drop the freewheel on the tool. Then I grab the tire and rotate the wheel counter clockwise and off it comes. Really a no brainer.

Dr.Deltron

as the others have postsed; GREASE! as well as the tool in the vice technique.
Note; anti-sieze is not nearly as good as grease. Anti sieze is designed for exhaust manifold studs and the like because it doesn't burn at high tempuratures. For freewheels etc, I use boat trailer wheel bearing grease.

wckrspgt

Important to make sure that the freewheel is snugged down well before riding. If it's loose, the torque from the eager rider will overtighten it right off the start.

rmfnla

...and possibly damage those fine threads in the process.

Good one!

CharlesC

I found this little tidbit of information on the web:
"Anti-seize is designed to prevent galling or corrosion from locking threaded parts together. BTW, do not use copper based anti-seize on aluminum parts going into saltwater like on marine applications. It sets up a galvanic reaction that is almost as good as a weld at locking the parts together - use marine grease instead. So Grease can be used in the place of anti-seize, but not visa-versa."
It would appear that grease is indeed the better lube for freewheel to hub threads.

Philatio

I usually just "loosely tighten", when I used to go to a lot of effort to get the freewheel tight before I rode on it I would still feel it tighten up when I first started pedaling. So lately I will just hand tighten it and let it tighten up on it's own when I ride it. I have been switching back and forth twice a month or so for 3-4 months and it has always come off with no problem.

I have not seen any damage to the hub. I will go easy on it for a mile or so in an effort to not over tighten though.

Am I damaging something here?

supcom

If you plan on swapping the freewheels regularly, then there is no need to do anything. Frequent removal will prevent corrosion from building up.

Nonetheless, a little grease will generally prevent any problems. You could use anti-sieze grease if you like but it's not required.