What type of freewheel extractor do I need

mroli

I think I need a 4 prong one - would that be right? Picture of hub is here - note the 2 snapped teeth on my freewheel! Had no idea this was the state of them - thought my freewheel was a bit noisy, but didn't realise why - and then saw this. Freewheel is just under a year old - seems a little early to be in this state? You can see the missing teeth at 12 o'clock and 3 o'clock.

nicklouse

http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-hel ... el-removal

looks like a FR-8 will do.

mroli

Thanks Dude - I for some reason was getting fixated on the suntour 4 prong, so that helps a lot - thanks.

andrew_s

Plenty of life left in that - you've still go 16 teeth left
This is what knackered looks like

(from 6-speed uniglide cassette)

A year is a poor life. The basic problem is that most freewheels are cheap and nasty, and those that aren't are expensive

redvee

For one of those budget freewheels a year is good. I've killed one in 2 weeks. I would love a White Industries freewheel but have to stick with Shimano freewheels for £15 from CRC.

mroli

Thanks Redvee - that answers my question about where to get my next freewheel!

redvee

Feck me, they've shot up in price. Guess CRC have got to pay for their cardborad boxes somehow. £27 now :shock:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... delID=7805

Servicable to a certain extent too. My 17t makes noises under power but I filled the bearings with grease which has cured it.

mroli

yeah - wow, that was a bit of a shock...

£21 inc p&p from Parkers: http://www.parker-international.co.uk/7 ... gn=pid7405

Or am I just better getting a dirt cheap one such as http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Chrome-Black-Brow ... 84b735e893

or will a White industries one last me for ever?

redvee

Go with the offerings from Parker. If you want a durability test of the WI, buy it for me and I'll let you know in a year or two I bought a cheapo freewheel and it lasted 14 days of riding and the replacement was shot from day two.

mroli

ta - found the Shimano one for about £15 on the fleabay so went for that. Review of the cheaper freewheels seem to be negative to say the least!

maddog 2

Alans bmx has the Shimano one for £19

http://www.alansbmx.com/product_info.ph ... cts_id=775

(not sure what postage is though)

redvee

maddog 2 wrote:

Alans bmx has the Shimano one for £19

http://www.alansbmx.com/product_info.ph ... cts_id=775

(not sure what postage is though)

£3.50 postage upto £60 spends.

mroli

Hmm - the PR8 doesn't work - fits totally inside the freewheel and the prongs don't go into the holes. Anyone have an idea what is the size up?!

mroli

Think it may be the FR 6 - well, got that on order now - will soon see!

fatherted

"looks like a FR-8 will do."

I'm surprised no-one corrected this comment.

It's plain to see from the ParkTool link that you require the FR-6

By the way, Alf at The Bike-Inn , http://www.webbline.co.uk/ is very helpful if you ever get stuck with these kinds of issues.
Just email him a pic , the chances are that he can beat the ParkTool prices as well.

nicklouse

fatherted wrote:

"looks like a FR-8 will do."

I'm surprised no-one corrected this comment.

It's plain to see from the ParkTool link that you require the FR-6

By the way, Alf at The Bike-Inn , http://www.webbline.co.uk/ is very helpful if you ever get stuck with these kinds of issues.
Just email him a pic , the chances are that he can beat the ParkTool prices as well.

I am surprised the OP did not measure to see if it was 30mm or 40mm across.

mroli

If you knew the OP, you'd know that he is largely clueless and therefore reliant on advice from faceless forum people.

On the other hand, if I ever get a 30m across free hub, I have the right tool!

mroli

OK - FR 6 fits perfectly, but despite a fairly long handled spanner, no joy in getting the freewheel to shift. Any tips from anyone?

redvee

I use a 15" jussie and a little effort gets them off but I do grease the threads before I put them on. Put a tyre/tube on the wheel and put the wheel against a wall and then try harder.

keef66

Clamp tool in a bench mounted vice. Engage the freewheel. Unscrew the wheel from the now stationary tool / freewheel.

Helps if the wheel has an inflated tyre on it; better grip.

If you don't have a bench vice, you might get away with a workmate type thing if you have a fat friend to weigh the thing down. Otherwise it will chase you round the garage when you heave on the wheel. I imagine.

keef66

"On the other hand, if I ever get a 30m across free hub, I have the right tool! "

I've never seen one quite that big. If you do come across one, could you pls post some pics??

mroli

Ha, yes, maybe mm rather than m.

Good tip on the vice - I've got one somewhere in the shed that I'll dig out if my manning the FU doesn't work.

re the greasing of the threads - I always do. Halfords don't seem to play by the same rules though!

mroli

Right:

6" wrench - fail.
10" wrench - fail
10" wrench with wheel against wall using foot, hitting wrench with hammer - fail.
Freewheel remover locked in Record Vice, record vice in B&D Workmate, frustrated owner pulling on wheel - fail.

Now have sprayed freehub with copious amounts of WD40 and leaving to soak in for a bit.

*sigh* - and before anyone asks, I'm trying to unscrew it correctly - I've watched videos and everything...

Any more smart tips Bike Radar geniuses?

ride_whenever

Buy a new wheel, if you've had it on long enough to do that to it and the freewheel wasn't greased it is probably seized on outrageously hard.

I think the next step is to dismantle the freewheel to allow for better purchase with a stilson wrench.

EDIT: take to lbs with biscuits, it's a 30 sec job with a proper bench mounted vice as you've got a lot more leverage using the wheel on a solid vice. If it doesn't come off then then you might as well pick up a cheap ss wheel.

redvee

ride_whenever wrote:

I think the next step is to dismantle the freewheel to allow for better purchase with a stilson wrench.

Hammer and chisel and destroy the freewheel, or as mentioned by or build a new wheel.

mroli

Been on for almost a year exactly. Sounds like a new wheel doesn't it? Gutted. Must be able to get it off SOMEHOW!!!!

I removed all bits I could think of when I got my bike back from Halfords (its a road comp sc), but forgot about the freewheel.....

redvee

mroli wrote:

Right:

6" wrench - fail.
10" wrench - fail
10" wrench with wheel against wall using foot, hitting wrench with hammer - fail.
Freewheel remover locked in Record Vice, record vice in B&D Workmate, frustrated owner pulling on wheel - fail.

Now have sprayed freehub with copious amounts of WD40 and leaving to soak in for a bit.

*sigh* - and before anyone asks, I'm trying to unscrew it correctly - I've watched videos and everything...

Any more smart tips Bike Radar geniuses?

Grab a 3' length of scaffold tube and try that over the handle of the jussie with the wheel against a wall with tyre on but be prepared for grazed knuckles when the lever meets wall.

ps Put the scaffolding back on the lorry you nicked it from.

mroli

Right, a literal soaking with WD40 has resulted in - Fail.

LBS it will be for me then (unless I can steal a scaffold pipe from somewhere as suggested by Redvee)

What was it Archimedes said: Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world.

Well, Archimedes obviously didn't have a single speed freewheel on his bike. Must've rode fixed.

mroli

Wife, fed up with watching me holding a wheel in one hand, scratching my head with the other took my wheel to a bike shop this afternoon.

"They disappeared in the back for a minute and came back with it undone".

I need more information than that - whether they had a 30 foot long wrench, a gorilla out back what.

My wife just said "there was no charge - you owe me treats"...

Grah. Bike shop PASS, my ego FAIL....

redvee

mroli wrote:

My wife just said "there was no charge - you owe me treats"...

That is gonna cost you more than you can calculate