Originally Posted by
Pompiere
Yesterday I managed to remove one of those large diameter Sachs-Maillard freewheels without destroying it, using a pair of Vise-Grips and a large Crescent wrench. I removed the axle to make room for the Vise-Grips, then I grabbed from the splines out to the second or third cog with the Vise-Grips. I braced the wheel against my workbench and used the Crescent wrench to twist the Vise-Grips. I had to support the Vise-Grips with my hand so they didn't pop loose from the angle they were being twisted. The freewheel was on pretty tight, but it eventually popped loose. The only damage to the freewheel was a couple of scratches in the surface of one of the cogs.
I always put anti-sieze compound on the threads and only screw them on hand tight to make future removal easier.
OK, I hate people that bump threads and create zombie threads - but I ran across this thread searching for a Maillard freewheel tool. Figured I didn't really want the tool or freewheel anyways so this was worth a try.
Put a piece of chain across the cog teeth, clamped the Vice Grips on, used a huge screwdriver through the jaws and the freewheel just wound right off. Thanks [MENTION=43435]Pompiere[/MENTION].