How To Remove Freewheel Without Remover Tool

I show how to remove a freewheel from a bike wheel without using a special freewheel remover tool. This can be done if the freewheel remover tool is not available such as for off-brand freewheels. Or if the notches for the remover tool are damaged. Or if you just don't want to buy the remover tool.
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[@RJTheBikeGuy]

For more bike repair videos hit the subscribe button 🛑 and click the notification bell ► bit.ly/SubRJTheBikeGuy

[@craiglee8904]

You helped me rescue my daughter’s beloved old Schwinn LeTour, at no cost. Much appreciated.

[@NiSiochainGanSaoirse]

It's a lovely feeling to save things isn't it 😊

[@millerprj]

I guess that's why it's called a freewheel. When you take it apart you set all the bearings free...

[@ronatygeredd5135]

You just saved my project this Saturday! You've been my mentor for years! Thanks.

[@stickypalmping]

I just used a nail and vice-grips and got the job done. Thanks for this video it really helped.

[@Gojira_Wins]

My Tri Diamond 14t Freewheel fell apart today, your video saved me tons of money and frustration. So thank you! You are appreciated!

[@ceetee2299]

Excellent. Just what I needed to know in simple language. It worked out exactly as you said and no money wasted on another tool. Bike is back up and running again with the new fixed wheel, all on a tight budget. Great advice. Thanks

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

The proper tool can be gotten as cheap as $5-$10.

[@SquidBoyTube]

Hi RJ, Orange County Transit Authority donated a bunch of abandoned bikes from their Lost & Found that were "leftovers" from their auction sale. As you might imagine, the bikes were all in various states of: "YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING ME!". I'm twistin' wrenches on them, and will give anything I can get running to a local N.P.O., in exchange for kids' bikes that'll go to an orphanage in Mexico, so that I'll have a convenient excuse to go eat fish tacos in Baja. I just wanted you to know that you are contributing mightily to my greasy fingernails, gashed knuckles, advanced cursing skills, and a lot of wide grins on the faces of folks who cannot afford to purchase their own bikes when I had 'em one of the "Frankenstein Monsters" that I cobble together. Good on ya! Matt (Masochist in So. Cal')

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

Matt Pohlhammer Sounds cool! Though I generally edit out the curse words from my vids. And their have been a few. LOL!

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

I can just imagine how bad they must be if they were not bought at the auction.

[@neilfroggycrompton2466]

+Matt Pohlhammer gashed knuckles & advanced cursing skills :D anyone who fixes bikes or anything mechanical can relate to this,best wishes & thumbs up to you for helping out the orphanage :)

[@mtlnascarfan]

+Matt Pohlhammer Two gashed thumbs up to you, brother!

[@sonofedmund5004]

I love fixing up old junkers, bikes never fail to amaze me at how they can be resurrected! Doing it for a good cause - double good on you mate!

[@winstonlanda7731]

I had a rusty old freewheel on my BMX and I replaced it myself thanks to this method. Big thanks from LA for this video.

[@petemc5070]

Thanks very much, RJ. I just removed the lockring as you described and have now been able to replace broken spokes.

[@yumbus2]

You beauty! I was 90% there and was planning to use a pipe wrench before I found this vid. Just couldn't figure out which way to turn the inner part and was worried I might scratch it up a bit - but mission now accomplished. Thankyou.

[@charlesalmero331]

Awesome video on this tutorial. I wasn't so lucky though, bearings went everywhere...lol

[@daggsusa]

Timeless Video Period! I believe this is maybe, just maybe, THE Only video that demonstrates this method. Spot on Bru! Cheers

[@TheYesnoyesnoyesno]

Thanks - a tip for those in my situation - where a ball bearing or two shattered and needed to be removed - this doesn't have to destroy the hub once you realise the ball bearings will fall out. Just be careful to do it over a box, and use a magnet to retrieve the bearings, clean them in towels and wd40, clean the hub and then use bearing grease - it's sticky.... smear the lower ring with grease, slowly stick the balls on, lower the freewheel over it and they are trapped, then repeat for the top layer. Worked a treat...

[@jcuvier135]

Exactly what I was thinking. This process doesn't "destroy" anything. (Unless the pipe wrench chews up the freewheel or the pin punch digs into the lock ring.)

[@aniruddjegannathan7094]

Thank you so much Mr RJ, I just started a bicycle workshop & it's been a month or so... Well this video did help me out alot when I was in a pinch, thanks alot, keep making more videos, so that you inspire more bicycle tech's like us who just started... 😍😍😍

[@redalert2834]

This is very useful to know. Sometimes the pawls can get clogged up. It happened to a freewheel of mine which had done less than 1000 miles. Nice to be able to access the innards, take a look at the mechanism and clean everything out.

[@JacobR2]

An hour of work, then I watch this video and get it in 10 minutes. Very concise, thank you.

[@brianmiller1451]

Nice quality video. My LBS is pretty friendly and good at taking off old free wheels for me, but sometimes I just prefer to do it myself, especially on restoration jobs.

[@malykemmanuel5556]

This saved me a ton of money by upgrading to a megarange freewheel and the old freewheel just got some stripped splines and this video worked amd rebuiled my old freewheel, thanks rj

[@ifonlytimestoodstill]

RJ for the rescue! Such an easy hack I did this in the same time as the video - thank you!

[@Antiwasserstoff]

Thanks for this vid! I've just got a Wheelset handed out where the Freewheel was wobbling and the notches for my Remover tool has been stripped off by the previous owner. This just helped me at least to save the Hub

[@heavystarch100]

Dude you saved me a serious headache converting a mid fat bike to single speed! 💀👍

[@ghenulo]

I've been considering going single-speed, but it seems that single-speed bikes still have a freewheel with just one speed, and you still need a tool to remove it.

[@brianmashburn2265]

This is a great video. I had an old SunTour single speed freewheel whose spacing was different than the new tool that I bought. Used this video and was able to get it off in five minutes. Much appreciated!

[@andrebryant6343]

wish I seen this before spending money.... you have been a big help. Thank you. your tips, vids and help are greatly appreciated!

[@sdb701]

Thanks for this video. I had the tool but it was a loose fit and would slip off. The only issue I had is that a pipe wrench wouldn't work for me. The freewheel was too tight. I put it in a vice and turned the wheel. Worked like a charm. Thanks again.

[@paulywill]

Ordered the wrong tool... this vid saved me some additional money! Much appreciated!!!

[@Simon-qn5wm]

Thanks so much for this video. It got me out of a mess. I needed to replace the axle bearings & did not have a removal tool. I need my bike for work so was stuck. This tip worked great & was able to remove & refit the freewheel without damaging it. I removed the spring & pawls & used a soft jawed vice.

[@philbrooksjazz]

Excellent video! I'll bet you could probably save the old freewheel by using a dremel tool with the grinding attachment and smooth out the damage done by the pipe wrench.

[@emmawoodhouse2502]

Thank you for a clear and helpful video. There was no way I was going to spend more on a tool to remove my old SunTour freewheel than I did on my new freewheel. Didn't manage to get it moving with a punch and hammer, but some old needle-nosed pliers did the trick. Helpful to see which way everything should turn. Thanks again!

[@michaeldoshier1107]

Holy crap thank you i took it apart by mistake and for the life of me i couldn't get the bottom half of the free wheel off thanks again super helpful

[@jaimeizreal8810]

Awesome @RJ The Bike Guy, you saved my ass. My freaken brother bought this really old, used mountain bike with 26 inch wheels and it had this old style freehub and I didn't have the tool to remove it. Thanks man, I used a screw driver and a mallet and it came off just like yours. Amazing. +LIKE Keep it up!

[@outcast566]

Great tutorial thanks! Next time I will apply some anti-seize to the threads.

[@thxcuz]

Thanks, this helped immensely. I put a non shimano on a ebike hub and I was moving it to a different bike with indexed shifting. Instead of the hassle of setting the shifting I just trashed the old one (it was of no use to me anymore) and used the freewheel currently on the bike (I have a shimano freewheel removal tool so that was no problem)

[@Holeyguagaamoley]

Awesome job, had my own hub replaced in 10 mins, thank you!

[@zarko_mkd1780]

That is very simple without any special tools to remove the freewheel cassete, thanks for the help!!!

[@lanalibertine7545]

I forgot about this method! Have used it a few times but didn't think of using a punch like that. I don't think it's that easy to completely destroy it too, probably re assemble and keep using it.

[@kevincallaby1633]

thanks very much. I've just removed an old regina freeweel as the teeth were worn and the removal tool was very rare. Replaced with a nicer Maillard which I own the compatible tool for. System works well - keep it up.

[@petehuebner5697]

Thanks. The video helped me repair the bearings and I was even able to save the hub!

[@poffpoff1]

Thank you. So much. My old freewheel to my single speed bike had this vintage solution witout any nothes for tools; and it was broken so heavily that the metal nothes inside that locks the wheel in one direction were completely ripped off. So again, thank you.

[@eszternagy]

A million thanks Sir! It's not the special removal tool that I was missing but the special long & strong iron tube you used in the other video. Gosh, I'm so releaved! Half of my existential crisis is gone. :-)

[@maxttelloc5253]

Yes! This just saved my trainer! Silly story, but this was huge! Thank you!

[@mr.blackhawk142]

Thanx for the helpful video RJ! I am doing an ebike conversion, and will need to transplant my freehub to the new motorized wheel. (=

[@shannonhooge6241]

You deserve a medal!

[@abubakarsadik2457]

Of all the videos I watched your own was the best

[@dancohen819]

Exactly what I needed. Thanks!

[@belaczako1102]

Its awesome man. Its just getting tighter in use, because as you pedal the freewheel thread is the direction of the rotation and just getting harder. When i started to pedal it was just turning a few before started to rotate the wheel.

[@drewguttormson9368]

WOW. this really works. Be sure to follow his direction with hammering the indent clockwise. seems counter intuitive but it is correct.

[@OurGreedyCorruptGovt]

Perfect! Just the help I needed. Thanks!

[@uk_familygreen]

U helped me fix my son's mounting bike thank you👍

[@Ccccccccccsssssssssss]

Thanks for the video this really helped me out!

[@ibcfministries8403]

Thank you RJ! Bless your heart!

[@vossi6303]

mind blowing.. thnx a lot :D .. Makes you wonder why there are still 126 people dislikes... This is the most un unlikable vid there is.. Useful, rare info, no-nonsense, clear, in a plessant way

[@danielaryate9253]

Thank you RJ! You Helps me a Lot

[@SuperStratification]

Great tip, thx. I restore old bikes, so I definitely run across bad freewheels, and freewheels without tools.

[@vincentmalmgren1925]

Hi: First, thanks for all the great videos. I wonder if you have any thoughts on how to remove an old Maillard/Sachs freewheel without the proper tool. I'm talking about the kind that requires the 24-spline tool (Bicycle Research CT-3) that costs about $20 - $35. There is no plate on the freewheel that you can remove to disassemble the freewheel. Thanks.

[@peterorro883]

Thank you! Punch and reverse thread! Good tip! Got me in!

[@rkgrant]

useful tip. I had an obscure french freewheel on one of my wheels that I was unable to get the tool for.

[@qkcam45]

this video is just what I had been looking for.thank you! my bearings did go everywhere though.. (haste makes waste, i guess) i was able to find 70 of the bearings. How many are actually inside? wondering if anyway to save the flywheel ? thank you awesome video

[@dynoshane2651]

About time thanx mate, very useful to me for what I need to do..🙂

[@czarekf.3941]

This method works, thank You!

[@tonyconnors1342]

Again i get the answer from you many thanks for your videos.

[@tekknorat]

Wow, this comes right when needed.

[@thebikebible3188]

Great tutorial! Learnt alot!

[@redmondgar]

Thanks RJ I might use this demonstration although I wont remove the free wheel with the pipe wrench...I just need to replace a spoke and I don't have the free wheel remover tool. So for my needs this should work out fine. As I can see there should be enough clearance for the spoke to fit without removing the inside free wheel part.

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

This method is a last case scenario. I had a viewer that had a trashed freewheel and the remover tool was not available at all. In most cases, just buy the remover tool. They usually cost about $10.

[@MagicofIreland]

RJ, genius again

[@balduberdriver]

I liked your vid, becaus I did not know how a freewheel works, now I do. Did it same as you, but did not destroy anything, just need to be a little carefull. Otherwize good tips.

[@saiesafari9640]

Your brilliant thanks, your previous videos are awaome as well

[@jfarinacci0329]

Really good info. Thank you.

[@sidhiq74]

Thank you so much Valuable information

[@lazylonewolf]

Thanks for this! My cheap lock tool just keeps slipping off. I don't have a hammer punch but I managed to get the lock ring off with a long screw. A bit dangerous, but it worked!

[@RyanPConboy]

It worked! Thank you.

[@tabhaigamingyt]

This tool very helpful thanks

[@ilikewasabe]

Rj saved me again!

[@caralopez1082]

Boom! 9 yr old video saves the day. Quick and concise.

[@ThisTimeTheWorld]

Good video. Park tool now makes Falcon freewheel removers. I previously thought the chicom fw just used old tooling and thats why shimano freewheel tools stripped. The destructive method you show is very effective and entertaining. I've done it with vise grips and a seatpost cheater pipe, and with monkey wrench. Monkey wrench is effective but can destroy your spokes or rim if careless.

[@Eagle10021]

THANK YOU! this helped me open my freewheel

[@sylwesterengel473]

Bardzo dobra stara metoda ( : Regards whit Poland - Fahrradmechaniker since 80's

[@juliussambrano3602]

hi sir tnx to the video im pilipino im watchng your video becuse of my road bike.. i dont have any tools.. but you give me a exsample without tools tnx.. sir

[@Darrenjudy5]

very helpful thank you!

[@pierlucricher3376]

Your videos are so usefull ! Found an old 10 speed with a flip flop wheel but the paws wouldnt engage, of course the bike shop told me i could not open the thing and i should just buy another freewheel. That was easy enough to hammer out that 1st piece and remove the shmoo inside it, working fine now 😀

[@pierlucricher3376]

What kind of grease works well on those 3 little ratchet paws ? I have a green tube of Phil waterproof bearing grease but it seems quite thick

[@jamesrussell2936]

@@pierlucricher3376 On something like a bike, which doesn't have too much stress to deal with, that will work. (3 months late but just in case anyone sees this)

[@adrian_V99]

love that little punch!

[@TrueRebel]

yes it is useful and EDUCATIONAL ...

[@vladekvlado9201]

Thank you, really helpful video. In 2019 is hard to find special tool for regina. Just advice. If you don't want scratches use some aluminum foil to wrap freewheel body. I used part of used deo spray can (easy to find at home)

[@marls0804]

Hi rj Thanks your video is very helpful for me...😉😉

[@easynerdworld3540]

Thanks mate... You help me a lot!!!

[@rollinrat4850]

If its a old rare freewheel that is save-able you could make clamp blocks out of wood to put in a vise. Measure approximate diameter where you’ll be clamping, drill that size in wood then saw cut right down middle of the hole. I like removing freewheels in the vise- you can use entire wheel for leverage, you can even have 2 people turning the wheel for stubborn ones. Its a much more stable and SAFE procedure. USE LOTS OF GREASE WHEN REINSTALLING THE FREEWHEEL onto the hub!!

[@mynameisyasser]

good idea

[@MyKharli]

saved me..my old freewheel had rusted away inside until it wasn't freewheeling at all and no freewheel tool would fit. tyvm

[@hafizmohammed1866]

thanks for the important video..................... from BANGLADESH ..

[@sbarsampa]

Thanks bro, it really works....

[@roldanvarona2185]

Its useful to me thanks for the vid 😊 i totally appreciated totally😊❤

[@andrebonillo5079]

Congratulations you have explained one of the ways to shoot your freewheel. Of course there are others

[@nacsurte]

Thank you!

[@hopenavajo1391]

It took me awhile to take it off the cog,thanks to your advice. In the process I skinned my knuckles.

[@paulb2094]

Thanks for the video! Saved me the hassle of buying the tool. My cogs were broken so the tool would have been a waste.

[@SasiruAnjana]

Very very helpful video

[@kenleach2516]

Helpful, thanks

[@jcomeau1956]

so that ring goes clockwise! thanks, that's just the info I needed! hopefully I didn't crank it down too tight while doing it wrong... [it worked! bearings all over the place though...]

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

Yeah, that happens. :D

[@dajughe3919]

Thank you it is really help full! !!

[@tmayberry7559]

Question could you use the same body to install the hardware for use with a cassette

[@deeg.7151]

Thanks a LOT !!!