Mid 70s Schwinn Suburban. Thumb shifter w/ single chainring up front and 5-speed freewheel in the back. Just got it from the parents and am currently going through and repacking all bearings (hasn't been ridden much and spent most of its life hanging from the garage ceiling so bearings and races are in surprisingly good condition). I'm just now getting to the hubs and was wondering what freewheel removal tool will work for this. It's splined and almost looks like it'd take a modern Shimano freehub tool.

Can anyone point me in the right direction? I can post photos of the hub later tonight, if needed.

Thanks.

I have a Park number 9 or 7 I forget exactly that I use on my 71 Varsity the splines on the Schwinn are really sharp and the park tool has flatter teeth but it fits and thats all I need. or go down to your LBS and they usually will take it off for nothing.

It's very possible that it takes a Regina/Maillard/Atom splined tool, Park might still make it, I bought the last one by LBS had on the rack.

First, determine what kind of freewheel you have. It's either an Atom or a Shimano. The Atom will say made in France on the flange. If the flange is thin and black and says model J, then it's a Shimano. Each takes a splined tool, but the model J is smaller. Your local bike shop will probably have both, but maybe not for sale as the Atom tool is harder to come by these days.

i'm sure park sells the atom variety...this one:
https://www.parktool.com/products/det...=4&item=FR%2D4
even says some schwinn approved...

edit: also maillard splined freewheels that i have seen are very large in diameter and unlike any atom or reginas i have seen.

My Trek has a freewheel (6-speed) the same size/spline configuration as the old Schwinn approved Atom,
Unless, I'm wrong, has happened before.

non-heliomatic? I am wrong all the time.

I've seen those on Peugeot's, Schwinn's, and Raleigh's. The LBS had the tool - it was a big splined thingie. They could order me one, but it was something like $39

I've only ever had to have 3 removed to replace spokes, so I never bough the tool - they did two for free, and charged me $5 for the other. It depends on when I go into the store and who helps me. When I worked close by the store I used to go in a lot for odd bits, and drop 12 packs of beer on the mechanics every once in a while. It's been a while but some still remember me.

I have an original Schwinn shop removal tool. It is similar to a modern splined tool, except it has a long handle for leverage.

Non Helico, thank goodness, My one Pug has a Helico hub, it's no end of frustration. The one on the Trek, (Maillard Hub) Takes the Regina/Atom tool, Pretty sure it said Maillard on it.

lol, I'm probably wrong more often than I'm right. I'll look again at the hub tomorrow.

[QUOTE=bigbossman]I've seen those on Peugeot's, Schwinn's, and Raleigh's. The LBS had the tool - it was a big splined thingie. They could order me one, but it was something like $39


I just picked up the puller for Atom et al earlier this year from my LBS. It was less than 10.00. I needed it for a '67 Schwinn i am still cleaning up. Found some nice NOS Schwinn Striaght Side Sport Touring tires to put on - so cool to have the original tires for it. The original Schwinn approved tubes are still in great shape. Just gotta love those old bikes!!!

Thanks for all the information. I didn't have a chance to clean things up and get a look last night (covered in 30 years of garage dirt). I figure I'll just take it into the shop when I pick up new cables and other odds and ends.

I bought one like that mailorder for about the same price. The one I'm talking about is a lot bigger in diameter, I think for the Malliard freewheels. Most of the earlier Peugeots need the bigger one.

Pretty sure that fits the later model J but not the earlier Schwinn Approved Atom. The model J is basically a copy of a Regina and the Regina tool works on those. The wide flange (74 and earlier, I think) Schwinn Approved Atom takes a larger tool.

Isn't Atom made by Maillard?

I can post a picture of the really large Maillard puller later.

I have two that I've used on Schwinns so far. One I bought for $7 at a shop and it looks like a splined socket. The other style I encountered looked like it needed a huge screwdriver as it had slots. I made a remover for that one with a piece of stainless steel and an angle grinder. Slap it in a vice, put the wheel down on it and spin the freewheel right off!

https://www.biketoolsetc.com/

Is sure to have the right tool for cheap. I found my schwinn frewheel tool there and my regina freewheel tool there too.

I tried that with regular flat iron stock from the HW store, and the damn freewheel bent the iron.

I need to find some sturdier stuff......