I had a really stuck freewheel. The fact that it was an English-threaded FW on a Italian-threaded hub did not help at all (although in theory they are somewhat compatible). Mounting the removal tool on a bench vice did not help, as the FW was so stuck that I managed to break the vice twice. WD-40 also was useless. Two things helped: (a) A long length (1 m/3 ft.) of elliptical cross-section iron pipe to increase leverage on the wrench, and (b) heating the FW cluster over a camping stove for 1-2 minutes (make sure you do not touch it, it is hot).
Originally Posted by
nlerner
I've learned a few things from trying to get off stuck freewheels: 1) Putting the tool in a vise and turning the wheel counterclockwise will give you the most leverage, but if things are really stuck, you'll risk taco-ing the rim; 2) using a skewer to hold the freewheel tool in place is a good idea, but don't use your best one as I've bent many a skewer on those particularly stubborn freewheels; 3) leverage is your friend; put a 12" crescent wrench on the tool (with the wheel in the vise) and then a long length of pipe around the wrench. I use a one that's L-shaped so that I can put the wrench right in the crook of the L and then push the pipe at its end. A length of pipe around the wrench has never failed me to get a freewheel off.
Neal