Wootnificent

Hey everyone,

I have been restoring my moms old Specialized Hard Rock gravel bike from the 80's and loving every minute of it ( I now understand my dad's time in the garage and going to the hardware store 2-3 times on Sundays for another tool or what have you). I just am having trouble disassembling the cassette on it. It is really grimy and has some rust that I would want to clean out on each part individually and dry, but boy is it a hard nut to crack. I bought a second chain whip to try to get better leverage and based off a YouTube video but its just on there so tight. I have used a bunch of WD-40, tried a heat gun followed by more WD-40, light knocks with a hammer to see if that might loosen it up. I am just curious if anyone has any tips or tricks to get this suck loose? I'd appreciate any help!
Thanks Bike Buds

Pete

shelbyfv

Please specify if it's a freewheel or a cassette. A cassette will come apart (as much as it's designed to) when you remove the lockring.

Wootnificent

I have a freewheel. I am still relatively new to bike repair so I guess I got my nomenclature mixed up my bad!

dsbrantjr

Some cassettes or parts of them are held together with small screws or rivets that can be removed or ground off to disassemble. Another tack might be to "floss" between the cogs with yarn dipped in solvent.
If you are trying to remove the cassette from the freehub be advised that only certain Uniglide cassettes are removed with two chain whips; the others use a lockring which requires a special tool to engage its splines to remove or reinstall. https://www.sheldonbrown.com/k7.html#remove
If it is not a cassette but a freewheel, a freewheel remover, of which there are many kinds, is required. https://www.sheldonbrown.com/free-k7.html

Edit: I see you have a freewheel. A remover is needed to remove but not to install. Since there are many kinds it might be most economical to bring the wheel to a bike shop to have the freewheel removed; you reinstall it by threading it on (grease the threads!) and riding the bike to tighten it. They typically do not come apart so there is not a lot of advantage to removing it just to clean it.

Wootnificent

So I have it removed from the wheel. I took the dust ring off and am cleaning the ball bearings and the internal mechanisms. I am looking to crack the cogs away from each other. The forum wont let me post pictures so it is hard for me to explain.

I really appreciate all the replies so far!

blamester

Don't bother. Soak it in a solvent. Clean with a rag or toothbrush.
Nothing to be gained by taking it apart any further.

Miele Man

You can get a stiff long bristle brush to scrub between the cogs. I use liquid laundry detergent and an old brush I took of a brush/scraper normally used for clearing snow/ice off of windshields in winter.

Or you can buy a dedicated between the cogs cleaning brush at most bicycle shops.

Cheers

Jeff Wills

Agreed. Also, an old t-shirt torn into narrow strips can be used to "floss" between the cogs to remove chunks of gunk.

SJX426 

@Wootnificent You may want to converse with pastorbobnlnh
He services freewheels.
Putting it back together with the core of the freewheel on the hub may be problematic. You should get a freewheel tool for your specific freewheel. Likely it is a Suntour. It will have it stamped on the ring around the axle.
Example:
SunTour Maeda 14-30, on Flickr

Multiple freewheel tools
P1030430, on Flickr

For multiple freewheels
P1030431, on Flickr

What's on your bike?

2cam16

Post a photo when you can.