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Best chainwhips for freewheel disassembly

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Best chainwhips for freewheel disassembly

Old 09-11-20, 11:19 PM
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Cycle Tourist
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Best chainwhips for freewheel disassembly

In the '70's I bought a couple of chainwhips so I could swap cogs around. They were flat stamped steel with a hole close to the edge with a length of chain attached and a knob on the short end meant to fit between the teeth of a cog. It worked fine then but as freewheels got tougher to separate over the years they usually break a chain before moving the first cog. I've checked on-line to upgrade and the whips are often referred to as cassette removal tools. Since I've never had a cassette so tight it would stress a tool that could budge a freewheel cog, my question is, are they any good for my purposes? I'd hate to buy a shop tool from Park when that would be overkill. Worse yet though is to buy a cheapie that flat doesn't work. Guys?
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Old 09-12-20, 06:30 AM
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I had a chain snap after starting to bend the handle (steel) on an old whip. I will make sure to soak any freewheel I work on in the future. C&V freewheels are very old even if they look fresh.
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Old 09-12-20, 06:56 AM
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Not cheap but no chain to break: https://www.amazon.com/Pedros-142722.../dp/B001Q270CC Use on the small cog, put a chain whip on one of the larger ones where you have better leverage.
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Old 09-12-20, 07:43 AM
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https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...heel-vise.html

https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...tion-help.html
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Old 09-12-20, 08:21 AM
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Originally Posted by dsbrantjr
Not cheap but no chain to break: https://www.amazon.com/Pedros-142722.../dp/B001Q270CC Use on the small cog, put a chain whip on one of the larger ones where you have better leverage.
Might consider but really hoping to find a Suntour freewheel vise that I would use in my bench vise.
Thanks.
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Old 09-12-20, 08:45 AM
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I have a 2x6 and lag screws as my freewheel vise. The toughest cogs to break are those threaded onto another cog, like the Sachs Aris 1st/2nd position.

John
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Old 09-12-20, 10:56 AM
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I had 2 ..lever: hot rolled steel , added ovalized steel tubing for a handle, with long leverage..

to make the chains in the chainwhips not blow out the pins, I used 3 1/8" chain 3 piece master links
to attach the chains to the steel flat bar..
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Old 09-12-20, 04:37 PM
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Birzman Sprocket Remover. I would go as far as saying that there is no point discussing any other tools in the comparison.


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Old 09-12-20, 04:49 PM
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Originally Posted by 2_i
Birzman Sprocket Remover. I would go as far as saying that there is no point discussing any other tools in the comparison.


That handle looks short. Maybe OK for strong people but I have met many cogs I"d never budge without a pipe over the handle (that wouldn't do that nice grip any good). The chainwhip I carry on my fix gear has a 22" handle. My shop chainwhips are longer.

Ben
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Old 09-12-20, 10:45 PM
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Originally Posted by 79pmooney
That handle looks short. Maybe OK for strong people but I have met many cogs I"d never budge without a pipe over the handle (that wouldn't do that nice grip any good). The chainwhip I carry on my fix gear has a 22" handle. My shop chainwhips are longer.

Ben
Torque is determined by force times arm of force. When you apply Birzman, the handle sticks out radially relative to a cog, so the length of the handle + half of the claws represents the arm. Other wrenches, like Park Tools, are applied tangentially to the cogs. Part of the handle sticks out beyond the cassette center and does not contribute to the torque. In the traditional whip only the longer chain applies the torque to the cog, hence the tendency for it to snap. The shorter chain just serves to lock the wrench. In Birzman both sides of the claws transfer the torque. While I stick with this Birzman, there is another one where you can extend the length of the handle. Note that the shape in this other one is also such that the handle is pushed towards a radial position.
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