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Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 18,070
Bikes: Stewart S&S coupled sport tourer, Stewart Sunday light, Stewart Commuting, Stewart Touring, Co Motion Tandem, Stewart 3-Spd, Stewart Track, Fuji Finest, Mongoose Tomac ATB, GT Bravado ATB, JCP Folder, Stewart 650B ATB
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Most freewheel outer cones are not held with a lock ring. So what are you actually referring to? Most threaded cones are instead run down very tight against a stack od wafer thin shims, how many is the trick to having a smooth turning freewheel that isn't too loose/sloppy and not binding. Most people regard a freewheel as a not to be taken apart device but instead a drip/drain through it solvent/oil device.
The most common exception to this is a series of SunTour freewheels from the early/mid 1980s (aprox). These are truly threaded race and lock ringed designs which really want their own tools to work on. Some of us have these tools but haven't used them for a LONG time.
Since a freewheel is so inexpensive (about $15-20) these days the trouble to service one is moot to most. Andy.