So I have this rear wheel from an old ebike… when pedaling forward, the pawls don’t engage. No problem, I thought. Ordered the proper tool and a new freewheel. The thing is, I can’t remove the old one. When turning counterclockwise, it spins into eternity. What am I missing? Should I hold one of the cogs with a chain whip? Every video I saw says no.
Is something else broken and that’s the reason I can’t remove it?
Appreciate the help!
Freewheel removal, am I missing something?
byu/ddarth7 inbikewrench
by ddarth7
18 Comments
Yes, a chain whip!
[deleted]
what is that lockring looking ring at the smallest cog? the one closest to camera. worth looking at?
Chain whip! Whip it good!
Your missing the chain whip.
https://preview.redd.it/bbflhwdlylkf1.jpeg?width=927&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=718e6c25831038550d38d66830430c38a04512ba
Devo has the answer.
https://youtu.be/j_QLzthSkfM
Not sure why so many people are wrong here. That is a freewheel. You don’t need a chain whip to remove a freewheel. However, something is wrong with this one, as you should be able to just unscrew it with the tool you are using. I’d take it to your LBS, or if you can unscrew the lockring at the end of it, remove the cogs to expose the internal part that threads onto the hub. This will allow you to put the remaining part of the freewheel into a vice and unscrew it.
Thats s cassestt. You need a chain whip.
That is 100% a freewheel and not a cassette as others have been saying. However that looks like possibly the tool is not gripping the inside of the freewheel properly, are you sure it’s the correct fitting? Other possibilities are that the thread on the hub is damaged and not allowing the freewheel to unscrew properly, or the part of the freewheel that takes the tool has become disconnected from the part that threads onto the hub, rendering removal very difficult.
You could remove the outer lockring with a chain whip and a lockring tool, but you would then need to remove the body of the freewheel from the hub, which is probably a bench vise job. My advice would be to take it to your LBS.
I think that E-bike Hub has its own freewheeling mechanism independent of the freewheel, so with a chain whip you should be able to loosen it
OP that’s a freewheel, no chain whip required.
My guess is that the threads on the hub flange are damaged and the freewheel is stuck on the damaged threads, thus just spinning. See if you can manually wiggle the freewheel side to side while pulling on it. You can also wrap a cloth around the backside of the freewheel and use a large flathead to pry on it. Just be careful of the spokes.
Good luck
If the center bolt is connected to the gears, it’s a freewheel and the chain whip is useless. A cassette would have a top cap bolt to torque it down and those do need a chain whip for removal. Check to see if you are actually turning the axel so you would only need to clamp the other side and spin it off with your tool.
It’s weird to see a freewheel with 8 gears. Can you clean it and look to see if there is anything written on it?
chain whip bro
You need to use it in conjunction with a cassette removal tool so the cassette does not turn
Yes a chain wip and check out park tool help videos, they are super good: https://www.parktool.com/en-us/blog/repair-help
if you hold the tool stationary, are you able to turn the cogs clockwise? if you can’t, then the freewheel pawls are still engaging, and i have a guess, that the threaded part of the hub that engages the freewheel is broken from the hub. this explains both why turning the tool counter clockwise does not remove the freewheel, as well as turning the freewheel clockwise does not deliver torque to the hub. if my guess is correct, then removing the axle is the only way for the freewheel to come off, and you’d need a new hub as well. i could be completely off though
Use a chain strap anyway. Still have to remove cassette. Then at least you can see what,s up.