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Freewheel Stuck on Wheel

Old 10-19-20, 12:52 PM
  #1  
kianjhocking
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Freewheel Stuck on Wheel

Hi,

I am in need with any tips for getting my freewheel off of my bike. The bike is an old apollo guru.

I have bought the 12 tooth freewheel removal tool, and it fits perfectly inside the freewheel.

However, I am putting as much force as I can into it, with a 10 inch wrench, in an anti clockwise direction.

Is there something I am doing wrong?

There is a spacer and nut on the shaft, and the freewheel tool fits around it without hitting it. I have tried removing this bolt and then using the freewheel tool too, but no luck.

From the image it can be seen it is a nervar freewheel.

I have seen that there are different types of 12 tooth freewheel adapter tools, although I am assuming as mine fits perfectly in that it is the correct one?

I tried to attach images, but it won't allow me until I have made 10 posts?

Apologies if this has already been a post, I have searched the internet thoroughly for a similar post but have found no solutions.

Any help will be greatly appreciated







,
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Old 10-19-20, 01:22 PM
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dabac
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Freewheels tighten by pedalling action. They can be on wickedly tight.
The preferred method of removal is to find a sturdy vise mounted to a sturdy bench anchored to a sturdy wall. Then stick the freewheel puller in the vise, put the wheel on top. Grasp rim like a bus driver turning hard left. Failing that, stick a cheater bar on the wrench, position the wheel in a corner so that unscrewing action will force it against a wall and twist. Or stomp on the cheater bar.
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Old 10-19-20, 01:29 PM
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Oldbill
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If the tool fits right, put the tool in a bench vise facing up, put the wheel down on the tool and turn the wheel. If there is room, put a wheel nut to hold the tool in place and when the freewheel releases (snap!) take off the nut and thread the freewheel off the rest of the way.
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Old 10-19-20, 01:42 PM
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Often a 10" wrench won't do it.
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Old 10-19-20, 02:52 PM
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Originally Posted by andrewclaus
Often a 10" wrench won't do it.
+1
A 16" wrench might not do it, but I wouldn't even think about trying a 10".
I had to do a bit of work with a triangular shaped file to make a 1" combination wrench fit ALL my PARK FW tools, but it works well. Pick up a cheapie at the pawn shop.
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Old 10-19-20, 02:55 PM
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Originally Posted by dabac
Freewheels tighten by pedalling action. They can be on wickedly tight.
The preferred method of removal is to find a sturdy vise mounted to a sturdy bench anchored to a sturdy wall. Then stick the freewheel puller in the vise, put the wheel on top. Grasp rim like a bus driver turning hard left. Failing that, stick a cheater bar on the wrench, position the wheel in a corner so that unscrewing action will force it against a wall and twist. Or stomp on the cheater bar.
+1
I have used this method myself of using the vise and turning the wheel when it is on so tight. Still takes some gusto though sometimes !
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Old 10-19-20, 02:59 PM
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Originally Posted by andrewclaus
Often a 10" wrench won't do it.
Quite right. I've used a 24" 1/2-square drive breaker bar and a socket over the remover tool and also the bench vise technique. Both give a huge increase in torque compared to a 10" wrench. If all you have is that 10" wrench, one possibility is to rap hard on the end of the wrench with a heavy mallet. Sometimes shock will loosen things that steady pressure won't.
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Old 10-19-20, 04:47 PM
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I have even used a 24" pipe wrench.
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Old 10-19-20, 04:52 PM
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Using the straw on a can of WD40, LiquidWrench, PB Blaster, etc. saturate the area between the largest cog and the hub. Allow the wheel to lay flat (and level) with the freewheel side down while you have a beer and a PowerBar. After your snack, try again. I have found the "tool in the vise" method works the best for me. Use caution if using a wrench on the removal tool. If ithe removal tool slips off while applying "gorilla" force to the wrench, you'll be in for a rude awakening! If the wheel has hollow axles, putting the QR back in to hold the removal tool in place can prevent that issue. Not too tight tho, just enough to hold the removal tool in place while "breaking it loose"!
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Old 10-20-20, 02:12 AM
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kianjhocking
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Ah okay, so more leverage seems to be the case. I will see what tools I can find.

Thanks everyone
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Old 10-20-20, 07:14 AM
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I would go for more leverage before whacking things with a hammer. You don't want to find a weak spot in one of the rim's / hub's spoke holes. +1 to Sovende on putting the QR back on loosely if you can.
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Old 10-20-20, 07:40 AM
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I would never even consider trying to remove a freewheel with a wrench. that sounds like a waste of time. always clamp the tool in a vice and put the wheel on the tool, using the wheel for leverage. if you don't have a bench vice, surely a neighbor has one you can use for five minutes.
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Old 10-20-20, 04:24 PM
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I use an adjustable wrench. That's all that's needed most of the time. Sometimes I use my neighbor's bench vise and "turn the big bus to the left."

Most often with stubborn freewheels, I hit the end of my wrench with my sledgehammer a few times. Works really well. Make sure the skewer is holding the removal tool securely.

If they're so stuck not even a cheater bar will work, you may need to disassemble the freewheel, use a penetrating oil, let sit, and then try some channel lock pliers and cheater bar on the remaining freewheel body.
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Old 10-20-20, 06:49 PM
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I guess "double-wrench and jumping on it" is a lost art form.
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Old 10-20-20, 10:14 PM
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Originally Posted by grizzly59
I would go for more leverage before whacking things with a hammer. You don't want to find a weak spot in one of the rim's / hub's spoke holes. +1 to Sovende on putting the QR back on loosely if you can.
Concur, leverage is the answer.
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Old 10-21-20, 06:13 PM
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Spray some WD-40 into the hub/freewheel interface, then hit it quick with a propane torch. 2-3 seconds tops. The heat will vaporize the solvent and drive it into the hub threads, and a little heat always helps loosen up threads. Saw my old bike mechanic do this. I thought he was nuts, but dang if it didn't work!
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Old 10-21-20, 07:21 PM
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I used a cordless Dewalt impact driver the last time I took one off. No sweat, it came loose easy with no busted or scraped knuckles. I might have done the vise method, but I had the impact and I don't have a vise. Good luck
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Old 10-22-20, 08:20 AM
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Originally Posted by kianjhocking
I am in need with any tips for getting my freewheel off of my bike.
The first reply to your post is your best answer IMO. It's what I've done back in the days of freewheels and I never knew they we so hard to get off as this method provides plenty of leverage.

Originally Posted by dabac
The preferred method of removal is to find a sturdy vise mounted to a sturdy bench anchored to a sturdy wall. Then stick the freewheel puller in the vise, put the wheel on top. Grasp rim like a bus driver turning hard left.
You do have a bench vise? No self-respecting DIYer should be without one.
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Old 10-22-20, 01:37 PM
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Originally Posted by mack_turtle
I would never even consider trying to remove a freewheel with a wrench. that sounds like a waste of time. always clamp the tool in a vice and put the wheel on the tool, using the wheel for leverage. if you don't have a bench vice, surely a neighbor has one you can use for five minutes.
fwiw i have always removed with a wrench, albeit in some cases with a lot of additional leverage
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Old 10-23-20, 12:07 AM
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Always have liquid wrench handy and a long pipe, no matter what you're doing.
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Old 10-23-20, 03:05 AM
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Originally Posted by Iride01
The first reply to your post is your best answer IMO. It's what I've done back in the days of freewheels and I never knew they we so hard to get off as this method provides plenty of leverage.

You do have a bench vise? No self-respecting DIYer should be without one.
While we have a bench vise at the shop but when we set up our field portable shop that is not an option so we user a 24" breaker bar with the proper socket to fit the freewheel removal tool and the wheel firmly planted on the ground and up against a wall at the same time....works like a charm
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