SS Freewheel Removal - Tips?

[smokeysmoo]

I need to remove the SS freewheel as I 'trackify' my Fuji fixed. It's the Shimano SF-1200 one pictuerd below.

It does look like the cheap ass Dicta ones TBH, and I'm not convinced the two indents are deep enough for a tool to get any purchase.

So has anyone got any tips, (hammer and chisel aside), for removing this freewheel before I take it to the LBS and spend more money I don't have?

Yours hopingly

 

[youngoldbloke]

I always held the tool in a (heavy) firmly fixed bench vice and turned the wheel itself, rather than trying to turn the tool with a spanner.

 

[smokeysmoo]

I always held the tool in a (heavy) firmly fixed bench vice and turned the wheel itself, rather than trying to turn the tool with a spanner.

Yup I've used that method on wheels in the past, but I'm just not convinced a tool would hold in the two small holes.

Looks like the LBS beckons

 

[djb1971]

Break the front plate off, stick the inside bits in a vice and use the wheel to turn and take it off.

If not, big hammer and chisel!

 

[PpPete]

Shimano. So there ought to be splines on the inside face?

Sent from my HTC Wildfire S A510e using Tapatalk 2

 

[youngoldbloke]

The holes? The freewheel tool locates in the notches.

 

[smokeysmoo]

Shimano. So there ought to be splines on the inside face?

Sorry PpPete, and.......? I'm really not familiar with the workings of these things TBH

The holes? The freewheel tool locates in the notches.

I thought the notches where part of the threaded hub body, no? I

If not are you saying THIS tool will fit?

 

[djb1971]

If you're fitting a new freewheel get a four notch. They are easily removed.

 

[smokeysmoo]

If you're fitting a new freewheel get a four notch. They are easily removed.

I won't be fitting a new one, I've never even used this one, which is why I'm loathe to buy a tool as it will go straight on eBay after I've used it.

It has to come off to make the bike track compliant.

 

[HovR]

Place your freewheel tool in the notches, then secure it tight with the quick release or wheel nuts. Turn the secured freewheel tool until the freewheel breaks free, then release the tool and do the rest by hand.

Be careful though, if you don't secure the freewheel tool tight enough it will slip and destroy the notches used to remove the freewheel!

 

[smokeysmoo]

Place your freewheel tool in the notches

I don't have a tool and I don't want to buy one as I'll never use it ever again!

 

[HovR]

Alternatively, if you have no freewheel tool but you have a bench vice:

Unscrew the face plate by inserting a pointy metal rod or similar in one of the holes and hitting it with a hammer to unscrew it counter-clockwise. Once this is off, hundreds of tiny bearings will fly everywhere - But more importantly the sprocket and freewheel mechanism will come off leaving you with just the inner metal section on the hub.

Put this section in a vice and unscrew, using the wheel as a lever.

 

[youngoldbloke]

See Sheldon Brown
"Older freewheels had simple notches and matching extractors with two or four "bosses" (prongs.) The shape and spacing of these prongs would vary from one brand to another. It was very common for the prongs to get rounded off or broken, and to ruin the freewheel. Once the notches are damaged, or to remove and discard an old freewheel for which you have no tool, you must disassemble the freewheel and clamp the core into a vise -- left side of the wheel up -- then unscrew the wheel counterclockwise".
(as djb1971 says above) The holes allow you to remove the cover plate and access the innards of the freewheel - see SB

Edit - +1 Hov R

 

[djb1971]

If its new and not heavily ridden try tapping it off using the notches. It will only really tighten on when you pedal it lots on big hills!!

 

[smokeysmoo]

Put this section in a vice and unscrew, using the wheel as a lever.

Yuup, saw this method mentioned somewhere else and thought it might end up being the way forward.

If its new and not heavily ridden try tapping it off using the notches. It will only really tighten on when you pedal it lots on big hills!!

Hmmm, might give this a try before resorting to the destruction method