


I want to overhaul these incredible hubs from some wheels I bought recently, but I can't remove the 10mm fixing bolt of the cassette body. I'm wondering if I messed up by taking off the spokes and rim, as I don't have enough leverage to apply good torque.
I have no vise, just some tools and degreasers. What can I do to remove this?
thanks!
by josee5252
9 Comments
Yes, it is difficult to remove a freehub if the hub is not laced into a wheel.
If you’re planning to build it into a wheel, do that first.
Short of building the wheel back up, you could probably install a cassette and then use a chain whip to get some leverage
Lace it back up to a rim, then you’ll have enough leverage against the hub body to hold it while you unscrew the freehub bolt.
My suggestions are to assemble the wheels using junk parts, or to use an impact wrench.
Fairly impossible to work on hubs that aren’t attached to wheels. Finish the rebuild and work on the hubs later. You need the leverage.
So, this is an example of removing parts in the wrong order. I doubt you can remove this without damaging the hub. Very high torque situation with no counter leverage. I have put hubs in a vice to get the free hub but, obviously you will destroy the hub body. Your only option is to rebuild the wheel first and then replace the free hub.
Got a strap wrench laying around?
I would probably try a strap wrench on the hub body. One with a rubber strap.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-6-in-Rubber-Strap-Wrench-410-273-0111/332221232
As lots of people have suggested, building a wheel around is probably easiest, especially if you just took one apart. It doesn’t have to be very true, and you don’t have to do the crosses.
I wonder if there is any way to cut down a 4×4 and rip it down the middle so that it can clamp the hub firmly between the flanges. Pound 16 (or 14 or 18) evenly spaced finishing nails through the drive side spoke holes. Apply the hex wrench to remove the fixing bolt. Either pull the nails or use bolt cutters to trim the heads off the nails and remove.
What do people think of this?