How do I remove the freewheel from a 1973 Schwinn Collegiate wheel?
 

Your best bet would be to bring it to a local bike shop. I have a lot of freewheel tools but I did not have the one for what I believe is your Schwinn/ Atom. I had to go to a bike shop that had the tool myself. Usually the older shops are better for this. If you go to a fancy new Trek store, they may not have the tool.

Is this from your Collegiate? Good luck.

yes the collegiate. I really want the tool and know how to do these projects without a bike shop. It cant be that difficult.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...4e76a97f9f.jpg

32,26,21,17,14

It is 22 mm inside diameter spline to spline
there are 20 teeth on the spline

It's not that difficult if you have the right tool. But the right tool for that freewheel is only going to work on that particular FW and maybe a few others. And if you replace that FW because the cogs are worn out, then the replacement FW will probably use a different tool to remove it.

That's why most of us would just take it to a shop if we couldn't figure out how to DIY our own tool.

Buy the tool and do it yourself if you want. It's only $40 bucks. Which would probably go a long way towards a brand new freewheel.

20 spline freewheel tool

are you sure it isnt this one?
https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=l&ai=...ECAUQEA&adurl=

Search me. Buy it and see if it fits.

is that the one you use for this freewheel?

Schwinn does use the Atom freewheel remover.

Looks a bit rusty. You may want to put the axle back on so you can lock the remover down while breaking it free.

Both are correct. the VAR will last forever because of how it's made, the park will last forever because you're only going to use it once.
EDIT: the entry on velobase
https://velobase.com/ViewComponent.a...4b3d3&Enum=114

Yes, the Park FR-4 will work for the OP's Schwinn Approved freewheel.

N.B. some Schwinn Approved freewheels of that era were made by Normandy, and use a wider diameter tool, e.g. the Bicycle Research CT-3:
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9628261a92.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...8c9b2393d6.jpg

And $40 is more than that bike is worth. Just saying.

:lol:

the park tool is only $8. but how much is the satisfaction of doing it yourself worth? its something fun to do and you learn something new. I saw this poor green 73 collegiate 5 speed and I dont know.. I just felt sorry for it and wanted to save it. ... If I spend $100 so what, its entertainment for me and I have somethign to show for it and talk about when Im done. I mean we all love bikes right? Besides Im going to put alloy wheels and hybrid tires on it, upgrade the brakes and maybe get rid of the stick shift on the stem and weld on a shifter boss on the down tube (heck I dont know).

I have an FR-4 in front of me right now.. it WILL NOT WORK on your Rusty French freewheel... note the SQUARE Spline profile of the FR-4.. and then note the PYRAMID profiles of the spline notches in your French Freewheel. They are Very different.

Why are you wanting to remove that old thing anyway? That entire wheel is a great candidate to be made into part of a Hyundai Fender, or a toaster oven, IMO.

I want the original freewheel to use on an alloy wheel for this bike. Im throwing the old schwinn wheel away. I guess I dont need it but the 6 sprocket freewheel that is on the donor wheel from an old trek seems a little wide for the bike and the wheel is not centered in the bike. I think if I use the original 5 sprocket from the Schwinn then the wheel can be centered between the stays.

thank you for your observations. What flywheel tool is the right one then? Thanks.

seriously? you were already shown the correct tool. and it's a FREEWHEEL
https://www.ebay.com/itm/27409613673...3ABFBMjo6fvMBi

[psst.. freewheels don't alter the wheel centering..... :innocent:.]

New freewheels only cost about $18. Some less, some more. Depends on how good you are at searching the internet. No tool needed to mount them.

Yes I recieved conflicting counsel. What tool have you used to remove this style freewheel?

Just a wild guess, but probably something very similar to what he linked to.

We may never know.