Free-wheel puller tool...
#1
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Free-wheel puller tool...
...I used to have a heavy duty work bench with a vice embedded on the edge of it's top..that would be a great source to lock my free-wheel-nut puller into the jaws of the vice...'n then easily mount the wheel horizontally on the nut in the vice...grab the perimeter of the wheel...twist....and loosen/remove the free-wheel so that I could change/adjust spokes on the free-wheel side of that rear bike wheel.
I no longer have access to a work bench or a vice....but have the nut for free-wheel removal....'n need to find a way to avoid the $5 charge to pull a free-wheel that I typically have to pay a bike repair shop whenever I need to work on any of my rear-wheel spokes on the free-wheel side.
*****
My vision is a bar around 30" long(roughly the diameter of the wheel) that the nut socket on it is either located in the center of the bar....or can be slid from one or either end to the center of the bar that would hold the 1" hex nut...brace the unmounted wheel horizontally on my lap with the free-wheel side up...insert the nut in it's socket on the bar into the free-wheel seat for the nut with the nut socket on the bar centered...'n twist that free-wheel free from the rear wheel with the arm/shoulder/upper-torso torque applied by me.
My first efforts going to Sears and Home Depot to find such a socket device have been unfruitful. My next step is to find access to a Snap-on tool inventory....but that cannot be cheap.....help!
I no longer have access to a work bench or a vice....but have the nut for free-wheel removal....'n need to find a way to avoid the $5 charge to pull a free-wheel that I typically have to pay a bike repair shop whenever I need to work on any of my rear-wheel spokes on the free-wheel side.
*****
My vision is a bar around 30" long(roughly the diameter of the wheel) that the nut socket on it is either located in the center of the bar....or can be slid from one or either end to the center of the bar that would hold the 1" hex nut...brace the unmounted wheel horizontally on my lap with the free-wheel side up...insert the nut in it's socket on the bar into the free-wheel seat for the nut with the nut socket on the bar centered...'n twist that free-wheel free from the rear wheel with the arm/shoulder/upper-torso torque applied by me.
My first efforts going to Sears and Home Depot to find such a socket device have been unfruitful. My next step is to find access to a Snap-on tool inventory....but that cannot be cheap.....help!
#2
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From: Hampton Roads VA
Bikes: '07 Trek 520, '09 Gary Fisher Triton, '04 Trek 8000, '85 Trek 500, '84 Trek 610, '85 Trek 510, '88 Trek 660, '92 Trek 930, Trek Multitrack 700
I just use a 12" Cresent wrench. Hold the wheel vertically with the freewheel to the right, put the wrench on the frewheel tool and push down. or you could get a breaker bar and 1" socket and do the same.
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"When I hear another express an opinion, which is not mine, I say to myself, He has a right to his opinion, as I to mine; why should I question it. His error does me no injury, and shall I become a Don Quixot to bring all men by force of argument, to one opinion? If a fact be misstated, it is probable he is gratified by a belief of it, and I have no right to deprive him of the gratification."
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#3
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Joined: Sep 2004
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From: boston, ma
most tool companies make what you are looking for. its called a slide bar. the handle is kind of short though so slip some pipe on the ends. i like to use the vice method on shimano freewheels because they have deep splines. for the other types i lock the freewheel tool with the skewer or nut and use the box wrench or 18 in adjustable
#4
Thrifty Bill

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From: Mans of NC & SW UT Desert
Bikes: 86 Katakura Silk, 87 Prologue X2, 88 Cimarron LE, 1975 Sekai 4000 Professional, 73 Paramount, plus more
Although I have a nice workbench with a large, sturdy vise, 99% of the time, I just remove them with a large breaker bar, or a 1 inch combination wrench. I only use the vise on the stubborn freewheels.
#5
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From: Ffld Cnty Connecticut
Bikes: Old Steelies I made, Old Cannondales
Common practice is to use the wheel's quick release skewer to hold the tool in place so it doesn't slip off. The qr should be almost tight, but not quite so the tool can unscrew a turn. Then remove the qr and continue unscrewing once it's broken loose.
If it's a non-qr wheel, put the nut over the tool to hold it in place. Either way, the tool should have a tiny bit of wiggle room before you apply power.
If it's a non-qr wheel, put the nut over the tool to hold it in place. Either way, the tool should have a tiny bit of wiggle room before you apply power.
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Last edited by Homebrew01; 12-05-11 at 11:26 AM.
#6
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From: Oxnard, CA
Bikes: 2009 Fuji Roubaix RC; 2011 Fuji Cross 2.0; '92 Diamond Back Ascent EX
I use a 12" adjustable wrench and a rubber mallet. Engage the remover into the freewheel (as mentioned above, using the QR, if so equipped, can help hold the tool in place); lock the wrench onto the remover, push the wheel against the floor and wall; and give a couple of good whacks of the mallet on the wrench. This method has worked great even on 30 year old stuff dug out of a dumpster.
#7
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Joined: Feb 2009
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From: Southwest MO
Bikes: (2) 1994 Cannondale R900, red, Silver Trek hybrid
Yeah, before I had a bench vice I'd hold the tool on the wheel with the QR as described one post above, put a 12" adjustable wrench on the adaptor, hold the wheel vertically with the wrench toward me on the right side of the wheel and step on the wrench with my foot. Never failed. (It needs the tire on it with air in it to do it)
#9
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From: Fort Worth, Texas Church of Hopeful Uncertainty
Bikes: 1966 Raleigh DL-1 Tourist, 1973 Schwinn Varsity, 1983 Raleigh Marathon, 1994 Nishiki Sport XRS
#10
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From: New Rochelle, NY
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You don't need to make or buy anything.
Use a long wrench, preferably 12-15". Put the wheel, with tire mounted and inflated, on the floor against a wall with the freewheel on the left, so that removing it would roll the wheel towards the wall. Stand over the wheel and set the wrench so the handle is horizontal or above pointing to the wall. Push down on the wrench, the wheel trapped in the corner, won't turn and the freewheel will come loose.
Don't forget to back off the nut or skewer immediately, before removing it once it's loose.
Use a long wrench, preferably 12-15". Put the wheel, with tire mounted and inflated, on the floor against a wall with the freewheel on the left, so that removing it would roll the wheel towards the wall. Stand over the wheel and set the wrench so the handle is horizontal or above pointing to the wall. Push down on the wrench, the wheel trapped in the corner, won't turn and the freewheel will come loose.
Don't forget to back off the nut or skewer immediately, before removing it once it's loose.
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Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
#11
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Joined: Sep 2004
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From: boston, ma
I use a 12" adjustable wrench and a rubber mallet. Engage the remover into the freewheel (as mentioned above, using the QR, if so equipped, can help hold the tool in place); lock the wrench onto the remover, push the wheel against the floor and wall; and give a couple of good whacks of the mallet on the wrench. This method has worked great even on 30 year old stuff dug out of a dumpster.
#12
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Joined: Dec 2011
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I want the driver interface with the nut to be at the center of the bar so that it will be much safer to apply the leverage, pushing and pulling from opposite ends of the bar at the same time.
Sears and Home Depot don't have anything that allows me to do that....I'm trying to contact a local Snap-On guy but haven't been able to get him to respond as yet...'n their web site doesn't lead me to graphical images that show me what I want...
#13
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!
That really isn't necessary if you retain the freewheel puller tool with the qr skewer or axle nut. As long as the puller can't rock or pop out, leverage, even a lot of it, from one side won't hurt anything. I used to use a 15" Crescent wrench on Sun Tour (even two-prong) and Shimano freewheel pullers but I did lock them down with the qr skewer. i neve had a problem or damaged anything.
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