Freewheel too tight to remove?
07-14-14, 01:01 PM
#1
Rider
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Matanuska-Susitna Borough, AK
Posts: 1,077
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times
in
5 Posts
Freewheel too tight to remove?
On the 4 year old or so Trek Navigator 3, one of the spokes finally wore out. When we went to get it fixed, the shop reported that the freewheel is apparently too tight to remove, even after applying triflow and letting it sit. It was removed a few months ago by a different shop to do some maintenance. Any thoughts on whether there's any quirky tricks that might help, or do we just have to buy a new wheel?
07-14-14, 01:43 PM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Fredericksburg, Va
Posts: 9,579
Bikes: '65 Frejus TDF, '73 Bottecchia Giro d'Italia, '83 Colnago Superissimo, '84 Trek 610, '84 Trek 760, '88 Pinarello Veneto, '88 De Rosa Pro, '89 Pinarello Montello, '94 Burley Duet, 97 Specialized RockHopper, 2010 Langster, Tern Link D8
Mentioned: 73 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1609 Post(s)
Liked 2,216 Times
in
1,103 Posts
Interesting. Never new spokes wore out! Didn't know freewheels were still being offered on bikes either. Thought that was a 80's when they moved to cassettes and free hubs. +1 on the new LBS as quirky trick.
07-14-14, 02:19 PM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: St Peters, Missouri
Posts: 30,225
Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1572 Post(s)
Liked 643 Times
in
364 Posts
"Triflow the snooty man's WD40."
I'm willing to bet that the MAJORITY of new, geared bikes that are sold today in the US have freewheels. Removing one is a relatively routine task. In this case, "routine" isn't necessarily a synonym for "easy". Removing a freewheel can take a prodigious amount of torque. It comes off CCW. The only real trick is to keep the freewheel remover tool engaged while you're torqueing on it.
I'm willing to bet that the MAJORITY of new, geared bikes that are sold today in the US have freewheels. Removing one is a relatively routine task. In this case, "routine" isn't necessarily a synonym for "easy". Removing a freewheel can take a prodigious amount of torque. It comes off CCW. The only real trick is to keep the freewheel remover tool engaged while you're torqueing on it.
__________________
My greatest fear is all of my kids standing around my coffin and talking about "how sensible" dad was.
My greatest fear is all of my kids standing around my coffin and talking about "how sensible" dad was.
07-14-14, 04:07 PM
#8
Old fart
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Appleton WI
Posts: 24,790
Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.
Mentioned: 153 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3590 Post(s)
Liked 3,401 Times
in
1,935 Posts
If the shop lacks the proper tool for removal, or if the engagement slots on the freewheel body have been damaged such that they no longer hold the remover tool securely, removal can become problematic.
07-14-14, 04:08 PM
#9
aka Tom Reingold
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Posts: 40,506
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Mentioned: 511 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7351 Post(s)
Liked 2,477 Times
in
1,439 Posts
Install a freewheel removal tool, secure it with he skewer, and turn the tool with a big wrench. Better yet, install the tool in a bench vise, and turn the wheel off the freewheel. Turn harder than your wimpy LBS mechanics turned it.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
07-14-14, 04:25 PM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Above ground, Walnut Creek, Ca
Posts: 6,681
Bikes: 8 ss bikes, 1 5-speed touring bike
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 86 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
4 Posts
i remove the wheel, put a 10" adjustable wrench (we used to call it a Crescent wrench) then slide on 2.5 ft. of 1.5" ID galvanized pipe over the handle. hold the wheel and a 10 year-old can remove it. what a bunch of pansies your LBS guys are. unbelievable!
07-14-14, 04:43 PM
#12
Senior Member
I have a 15" wrench. Using this, I have never been defeated in the task of removing a freewheel. Even on 30+ year old wheels, which have had a lot more time for the freewheel to become corroded onto the hub.
BTW: a spoke replacement is a 15 minutes job, including the freewheel removal.
07-14-14, 06:16 PM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 33,656
Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!
Mentioned: 39 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2026 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,096 Times
in
742 Posts
I have the same size adjustable wrench and have also never met a freewheel it wouldn't remove. I always clamp the remover tool to the hub using the qr skewer or axle nut so it can't pop off. This was essential with the old Sun Tour 2 and 4-prong removers but useful with splined tools too.
07-14-14, 06:52 PM
#14
Rider
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Matanuska-Susitna Borough, AK
Posts: 1,077
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times
in
5 Posts
Well, they haven't tried to charge me or sell me a new wheel, so I don't blame greed. I'll stop in in the morning and see what tools they were trying to use.
07-15-14, 07:05 AM
#16
Banned
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Lincoln Ne
Posts: 9,924
Bikes: RANS Stratus TerraTrike Tour II
Mentioned: 46 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3352 Post(s)
Liked 1,056 Times
in
635 Posts
Also the suggestion you find a different bike shop is probably the best idea. Apparently the one you are dealing with has a wimpy mechanic with very little strength or experience.
07-15-14, 08:09 AM
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: New Rochelle, NY
Posts: 38,725
Bikes: too many bikes from 1967 10s (5x2)Frejus to a Sumitomo Ti/Chorus aluminum 10s (10x2), plus one non-susp mtn bike I use as my commuter
Mentioned: 140 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5793 Post(s)
Liked 2,585 Times
in
1,433 Posts
Keep in mind that it doesn't matter how long the wrench is, you cannot get more leverage than the radius of the wheel you're holding back.
So the key to getting more leverage is to hold either the wheel or remover rigidly. There are various tricks to bracing a wheel, but far and away the simplest approach is to hold the remover in a vise and turn the wheel to the left. Channel the spirit of Ralph Cramden making a hard left turn before the advent of power steering, and use both hands and body English to free it.
BTW- if it doesn't pop free, and you haven't heard spokes pinging and creaking, get a truck driver to turn it for you.
So the key to getting more leverage is to hold either the wheel or remover rigidly. There are various tricks to bracing a wheel, but far and away the simplest approach is to hold the remover in a vise and turn the wheel to the left. Channel the spirit of Ralph Cramden making a hard left turn before the advent of power steering, and use both hands and body English to free it.
BTW- if it doesn't pop free, and you haven't heard spokes pinging and creaking, get a truck driver to turn it for you.
__________________
FB
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.
FB
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.
07-15-14, 08:18 AM
#18
Banned
We put the freewheel removal tool in the bench vise , then unscrew the wheel from the freewheel
which is fixed in the vise by the removal tool .. if too tough for 1 to turn, its a 2 man job.
NOLA was that bike submerged in the Flooding?
which is fixed in the vise by the removal tool .. if too tough for 1 to turn, its a 2 man job.
NOLA was that bike submerged in the Flooding?
07-15-14, 08:24 AM
#19
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
I work on a lot of tandems... sometimes it is a one man and one woman job and even after applying penetrants those freewheels can take an immense amount of torque to remove since so much torque gets put into tightening them up.
07-15-14, 08:25 AM
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: So Cal
Posts: 2,678
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
This method should do it.
__________________
It may not be fancy but it gets me were I need to go.
https://www.jtgraphics.net/cyclist_bicycles.htm
It may not be fancy but it gets me were I need to go.
https://www.jtgraphics.net/cyclist_bicycles.htm
07-15-14, 08:40 AM
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: New Rochelle, NY
Posts: 38,725
Bikes: too many bikes from 1967 10s (5x2)Frejus to a Sumitomo Ti/Chorus aluminum 10s (10x2), plus one non-susp mtn bike I use as my commuter
Mentioned: 140 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5793 Post(s)
Liked 2,585 Times
in
1,433 Posts
To the OP
This may be an age/generational thing. The staff at the shop may have been raised in the age of the cassette, and not that familiar with freewheels. Being used to cassettes they may have no idea of the amount of torque freewheel removal can involve. Instead of getting help within the shop, they simply said too tight and handed it back.
If the shop is at all decent (or at least convenient) this may be a teachable moment. See a senior staffer, and let him teach his people how it's done.
This may be an age/generational thing. The staff at the shop may have been raised in the age of the cassette, and not that familiar with freewheels. Being used to cassettes they may have no idea of the amount of torque freewheel removal can involve. Instead of getting help within the shop, they simply said too tight and handed it back.
If the shop is at all decent (or at least convenient) this may be a teachable moment. See a senior staffer, and let him teach his people how it's done.
__________________
FB
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.
FB
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.
07-15-14, 08:41 AM
#22
Banned
I borrowed a Big Wrench , in a town I was Passing through, when I needed to remove my freewheel
to replace the broken spoke, On a Bike tour , in England ,,
went to the Pub with the wrench owner, and had a few Pints, afterwards
to replace the broken spoke, On a Bike tour , in England ,,
went to the Pub with the wrench owner, and had a few Pints, afterwards
07-15-14, 09:37 AM
#23
Newbie
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 31
Bikes: Fuji Touring, Soma Double Cross, Nashbar Alum Mountain Frame/Surly Troll fork , 1977 Kobe Chapparal
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
According to the Trek website, this bike has a cassette not a freewheel. At least the Trek archives for the 2009-2011 Navigator 3.0 indicate a Sram 8-speed cassette.
07-15-14, 09:58 AM
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Very N and Very W Ohio Williams Co.
Posts: 2,458
Bikes: 2001 Trek Multitrack 7200, 2104 Fuji Sportif 1.5
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
There is also the option of destructive removal :-). Never done it but have removed lots of OTHER things with a careful application of a makita grinder :-)......
The guys at the auto salvage yard are artists with the oxy acetylene hot wrench but that probably not work out well here :-).
Bill
The guys at the auto salvage yard are artists with the oxy acetylene hot wrench but that probably not work out well here :-).
Bill
07-15-14, 11:51 AM
#25
Senior Member
Another vote for putting the removal tool in a vice, then as FBinNY siad, play bus driver. you may also have to jerk it a few times. It will come off.
Iv'e taken them off after; the vice moved, tigntened the vice with a pipe. Then he workbench the vice was attached to moved, had three guys hold the bench. Then my feet slid on the floor, had another guy help turn the wheel. It came off, it took 5 guys, but it came off.
Iv'e taken them off after; the vice moved, tigntened the vice with a pipe. Then he workbench the vice was attached to moved, had three guys hold the bench. Then my feet slid on the floor, had another guy help turn the wheel. It came off, it took 5 guys, but it came off.