I'm working on my first ever bike project; found a 1987 Nishiki Cresta Gt and trying to get it all cleaned up and ready to go again. I've been making good progress on everything but this freewheel. I finally got enough rust removed to figure out that it's a "suntour perfect via" freewheel.
As far as I understand from browsing this sub, I need to turn the outer ring clockwise with a pin spanner and the inner part counterclockwise. I don't have a pin spanner (but I'm fine getting one if that's what it takes), but tried a punch & hammer and it just won't budge. Same with the inner ring (I'm using a park tool FR-2), I can't get it to move.
Am I doing something wrong? Anything else I can try, or should I just give up and try to clean it best I can without removing it? It's running ok still, but I'd prefer to get it off and regrease it. Thanks!
by SevenpH
6 Comments
Hold your horses. You need a 2 prong freewheel remover for suntour. Park Tool makes ’em. Google rj the bike guy on you tube. He’ll have a how-to.
It’s a freewheel and you need the Suntour freewheel removal
https://preview.redd.it/v0t9pq1wkiog1.jpeg?width=903&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3522e312f7cf0a8c4782bde0aebce281c013dc53
tool. Right now you are trying to disassemble it instead of remove it.
Are you trying to disassemble the freewheel or remove it? You need a tool remove the freewheel, such as a Park FR-2. The easiest way to use it is to lock the tool onto the freewheel with the wheel axle, which appears to be missing, and put the tool into a vice and turn it counterclockwise.
Yeah reinstall the axle then slide on the tool and loosely secure the tool with the lug nut that way it won’t slip when you’re torquing the wheel on the vise to remove the freewheel.
https://preview.redd.it/ge4pgo5pliog1.png?width=775&format=png&auto=webp&s=e208ef01641f1568962325ba87809716e0c1cadc
THIS … You have the SAME 5-Speed Cassette that came on My 1986 Cannodale SM400 and THIS IS the TOOL I Used to Remove the Cassette along with a “Chain Whip”.
Assuming that you will replace the freewheel with a newer ramped 6 or 7 speed freewheel, using a pin tool or punch to pull the freewheel apart (left hand thread) is a good idea. A million microscopic balls will shoot out, and then you can pull the body with a pipe wrench (and 2′ of cheater bar). The ramped design shifts better than those ever did.