Makeshift freewheel removal
#1
Thread Starter
Very Slow Rider
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 1,274
Likes: 133
From: E Wa
Bikes: Jones Plus LWB, 1983 Centurion Japanese CrMo bike
Makeshift freewheel removal
(MECHANICS, SHEILD YOUR EYES)
I am building a single speed bike for my teenage daughter. I pulled the freewheel cassette off the wheel I am using by removing the lockring with a punch and a hammer, then twisted it off using a pipe wrench.
The single speed freewheel was a little trickier because, unlike the freewheel cassette, I need to reuse it. This is me removing the single speed freewheel using a vise and a pair of needle nose locking pliers (vice grips)... The wheel pictured is metric (700c) and won't work for my 26" build, hence the need to swap the two.
I am building a single speed bike for my teenage daughter. I pulled the freewheel cassette off the wheel I am using by removing the lockring with a punch and a hammer, then twisted it off using a pipe wrench.
The single speed freewheel was a little trickier because, unlike the freewheel cassette, I need to reuse it. This is me removing the single speed freewheel using a vise and a pair of needle nose locking pliers (vice grips)... The wheel pictured is metric (700c) and won't work for my 26" build, hence the need to swap the two.
#3
Thread Starter
Very Slow Rider
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 1,274
Likes: 133
From: E Wa
Bikes: Jones Plus LWB, 1983 Centurion Japanese CrMo bike
... no points for ingenuity? Also not sure what's "wrong" with my method? I truly did not care about destroying the multi speed freehub which I removed. It was bottom of the barrel, dept store Huffy stock. The freewheel pictured for my single speed project is pretty nice, Japanese made and I in no way harmed it using the method described.
#4
Old fart



Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 26,411
Likes: 5,350
From: Appleton WI
Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.
Also not sure what's "wrong" with my method? I truly did not care about destroying the multi speed freehub which I removed. It was bottom of the barrel, dept store Huffy stock. The freewheel pictured for my single speed project is pretty nice, Japanese made and I in no way harmed it using the method described.
The proper tool isn't that expensive. Why risk the expense and bother of destructive removal of your "nice" freewheel?
#5
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,646
Likes: 2
From: Salinas , Ca.
Bikes: Bike Nashbar AL-1 ,Raligh M50 , Schwinn Traveler , and others
using the proper tool reduces the risk of damaging the remover slots on the freewheel. Once that happens, destructive removal is often your only option.
The proper tool isn't that expensive. Why risk the expense and bother of destructive removal of your "nice" freewheel?
The proper tool isn't that expensive. Why risk the expense and bother of destructive removal of your "nice" freewheel?
#6
Sr Member on Sr bikes

Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 3,115
Likes: 1,293
From: Rhode Island (sometimes in SE Florida)
Bikes: Several...from old junk to new all-carbon.
Yes, I'll give cudos for this sort of ingenuity. I refer to this sort of ingenuity with a term I learned in the Navy..."Gun Decking." You do whatever you have to go to get your equipment working in the heat of battle. Good job.
Dan
Dan
#7
Thread Starter
Very Slow Rider
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 1,274
Likes: 133
From: E Wa
Bikes: Jones Plus LWB, 1983 Centurion Japanese CrMo bike
Thanks! I am learning but problem solving is a universal skill





