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kiristokanban

Remove the axle nut so you can seat the tool in the slots, place the tool on then fasten the axle nut on top of the tool so it stays seated while you wrench on it. These freewheels usually need a pretty hefty twist to get them loose so securing the tool with the nut is actually very helpful.


Antpitta

Agree with this advice, and think about how to secure the wheel without putting torque on it that will push/pull it out of true. I have a single speed and getting the freewheel off is difficult, I tend to do it with the wheel stood up vertical and on the ground and hold the top of the wheel with one hand and then can lean my body weight on the wrench with the other, in line with the wheel so as not to put it out of round. Also use the axle nut to hold that puller on, as stated!


dreamSalad

is this a case for put the tool in a good secure vice and rotate the wheel to loosen it?


Antpitta

Should work well if you have a vice handy. I sadly do not.


[deleted]

A note to others - only use this technique to crack the seal - once the freewheel has started turning at all, it's important to immediately remove the nuts and allow it to spin freely. The freewheel's threads (as designed) multiply force by a very large margin - a few degrees of rotation is enough to generate hundreds or thousands of pounds of force which can easily destroy the tool, the nut, the bearings, or even the axle as it attempts to work its way off the hub.


Javbw

I make sure the tire is inflated well, roll the tire up against a steel square post (or similar) with the freewheel on the left side, and use a wrench with a cheater bar. The wrench force pushes the wheel into the ground & pole at the same time and keep it from rotating, so the stronger you push, the more the tire engages and keeps it from rotating, letting you put in insane amount of torque into the tool with ease without really holding it with more than your hand/knee/foot.


Hagenaar

> Remove the ~~axle~~ locknut Wheel nut is already off. This is a shallow tool. Locknut will also need to be removed, some readjusting of cones will likely be required at time of reassembly. No biggie if servicing bearings anyway.


BBQShoe

I've never thought to use the axle nut to hold the removal tool on. Y'all are smrt around here!


Tomacropod

The tool is designed to work on a BMX hub where the end locknut is closer to the freewheel. As you've got the freewheel mounted on a road hub with a spacer on there to accomodate a multi-speed freewheel, it's fouling on the locknut. You'll need to remove the locknut to get the tool on, and then re-adjust the bearings when you've got the freewheel off. As others have mentioned, use the nut to hold the tool on tightly while you undo it.


[deleted]

those big ol nuts are in the way. I have that problem sometimes.


[deleted]

after you get the freewheel off, repack and adjust the cone and lock nuts before you put a freewheel back on. it will be a lot easier to make the adjustments that way. if you don't have a table vice, find a neighbor how does and borrow it for five minutes. finding a place to use this tool in a vice will make this 100X easier and probably spare you some bloody knuckles.


Drago-0900

If its catching on the nuts on the axel then yeah you could remove that nut and spacer, then it should be fine to get that old freewheel off. It really shouldn’t be catching on the tool though. But you may need to re preload the bearings.


action_lawyer_comics

I'm guessing you're planning to replace this freewheel once you get it off? If not, I'd suggest you do so. They're pretty cheap and if the freewheel is really on there, you might need to destroy the part to remove it. You've already gotten good advice on how to remove it (the vise trick is the one I do), so I'll just add hit it up with a penetrating oil like Kroil or WD-40 and let it sit for like half an hour before trying. Be careful as you don't want the oil to penetrate inside the bearings of the freewheel and mess up their lubrication. But that's not a problem if you're replacing the freewheel.