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Technical & Reference Section => Tech and Restoration => Topic started by: Glen on July 26, 2010, 04:21 PM

Title: removing a freewheel from a hub
Post by: Glen on July 26, 2010, 04:21 PM
Any idea how to remove a freewheel from a hub thats been delaced?  I dont have a vice to hold the hub in.  Would lacing the other side provide enough support to remove it?  Ive got the correct tool.
Title: Re: removing a freewheel from a hub
Post by: oldtired on July 26, 2010, 04:28 PM
i'd lace it to a junk rim , lace both sides, don't have to to tight just enough to hold the hub , if its a suntour / shimano fw with the proper tool should be easy ,be hard work in a vice wthout damaging the hub, unless its a scrapper then a cheap mini vice from local hardware shop are only about a tenner  :daumenhoch:
Title: Re: removing a freewheel from a hub
Post by: oldtired on July 26, 2010, 04:56 PM
 :LolLolLolLol: delaced both sides  then  :LolLolLolLol:  think your going to need a vice , worth trying with one side laced though , support the freewheel side with some wood that spans over the rim  ,   good soak in wd40 ,good smack on the spanner with a biggish hammer , they usually crack pretty easy
Title: Re: removing a freewheel from a hub
Post by: SteveG on July 26, 2010, 05:11 PM
Wonder if you could hold the center part of the hub with a strap wrench ? You could do as suggested and lace it up but you would have to bend the spokes a lot to get them in. Could you cut the ends off and just bend a U shape to hook on the hub ?

You probably need hold the drive side of the hub on case the small center section breaks or twists though.
Title: Re: removing a freewheel from a hub
Post by: firebird on July 26, 2010, 10:10 PM
Had a thought after we spoke,

You could try and thread the inner cable of a brake cable through some of the holes and lock the ends down in a vice, then spin off the freewheel

Steve
Title: Re: removing a freewheel from a hub
Post by: SaMAlex on July 27, 2010, 04:32 PM
Your gunna struggle Glen. Even with a vice and the right tool. A spokeless hub with a freewheel on it usually goes in the bin.

The ONLY thing you can do is try lacing one side and hope it doesnt twist too much when you take it off. A good tip is to bolt the tool in place with the wheel nut (but remember to take off the wheel nut once you've unscrewed the freewheel half a turn). It'd also be well worth finding someone with a vice. Put the tool in the vice and turn the wheel (like you were turning a bus steering wheel).

Good luck
Title: Re: removing a freewheel from a hub
Post by: moley on July 27, 2010, 04:35 PM
Try and make an angle grinder type spanner out of some sheet metal or summat.   The pins will be the hardest to construct.

(http://toolspot-static.co.uk/i/86z.jpg)

And hold the freewheel in a vice.

Make sure the spanner you construct is long because you'll probably need the leverage.

If you make it right then you could have 5 or 6 pins to spread the load through the hub.

Ask MacGyver or the A-Team for assistance!!  :D
Title: Re: removing a freewheel from a hub
Post by: ozone on July 27, 2010, 10:22 PM
I remember seeing a thread on here where someone managed to cut off the freewheel without damaging the hub or threads.  Might be an option if all else fails.   :-\
Title: Re: removing a freewheel from a hub
Post by: MartyC on July 28, 2010, 05:39 PM
Alex, thats what Ive done, laced the other side 4x, going to stick it in a vice and hope for the best!

Best way to do it, should come off with a little elbow grease and some anti-sieze spray or diesel on the freewheel threads  :daumenhoch:
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