Originally Posted by HillRider
The "correct" tool to remove a Shimano freewheel is the FR-1. The FR-5 is intended to remove the lock ring from Shimano freehub cassettes. The FR-1 and FR-5 have exactly the same spline pattern so they both sort of fit in both applications. The FR-1 is longer and gets a better purchase on the freewheel but the FR-5 will work (as you found out) if the freewheel isn't way too tight.
Actually, they are not identical and not interchangable in either application...He used a correct. fr-1 to remove the freewheel. Thr fr-1 has wider splines, and the fr-5 has a greater OD.