How to remove Schwinn Varsity freewheel without special tool

I was looking for a way to remove the freewheel on my vintage Schwinn without having to buy the $25 tool. I found that a tie rod "castle nut" fit inside the splines perfectly. Found a scrap piece of metal that fit inside the nut and turned it using a crescent wrench. It was pre loosened so came off pretty easy in the video.
Just wanted to share since my youtube search for this had come up empty.

[@SharpByCoop]

Thank you. This inspired my search and it worked. Park does NOT make a 24t spline tool, and this large nut fits tightly. I found and welded one onto a 1/2" to 3/8" adapter and it's perfect.

[@jorgesk8erdie]

what is this size castle nut i need

[@richardbauer8195]

Thanks for the great idea! I improvised and came up with a slightly different solution. An M18 (18 mm) metric nut or bolt head also fits perfectly. I bought a bolt and two nuts for less than $5. By threading the two nuts on the bolt and locking them together I was then able to insert the bolt head into the freewheel and get a large adjustable wrench on the inner nut and twist counter-clockwise to remove the freewheel. This was for a Normandy freewheel off of a French bike. I think Schwinn imported Normandy freewheels.

[@bmac65]

You ROCK !.. thanks for sharing this idea

[@nikiboard9959]

Brilliance without the shiny shit..Crabapple

[@Cruzio619]

yah you ROCK.. gonna go find a castle nut. but have another question. could you use a 27mm socket wrench to remove it?? hard to tell from the video or there isn't enough room for it to get a good grip.

[@robertlee320]

How to remove Schwinn Model J flywheel, which got 20 teeth(splinters), 22mm Diameter(tooth to tooth 19mm). What size tool will work? Help.

[@jeremygricar4361]

What size is the castle nut? Not really sure how to read that micrometer.

[@ODoyleRoolz22]

Width is slightly larger than 1". Probably 1-1/16". Its best to take your wheel to an auto parts store and find the proper nut there

[@davidwhocares3293]

BADDASS !!

[@wannamonslo9626]

I see 27 mm. I was given this bike and the rear wheel free wheels in both directions! I'm so confused! Never seen such an animal and do not know how to open it up. Anyone please gimme a lil knowledge dump?

[@michaelwurn6268]

Actually, the tool is $6.95, Park FR-4 tool, that way you engage all the splines and no chance of damage.

[@birthaappleshirt7404]

Michael Wurn I have the same freewheel and the fr4 does not fit at all

[@bimmerbent]

Wrong, Park doesn't make tool for this vintage FW. VAR 405 Splined Freewheel Remover Tool.

[@michaelwurn6268]

@@bimmerbent Wonder how I got one then. Must be an anomoly.

[@arlenemartin8894]

Unless they have changed their product names I just bought the fr-4 because of a comment somewhere that they work for this wheel. The fr-4 that I recieved from park tool recently is nowhere near close to the right size for my schwinn varsity.

[@michaelwurn6268]

@@arlenemartin8894 I just bought mine in 2019 and used it on a 1973 Continental, and a 5 speed hub from an old stingray. Both should be the same as a Varsity.

[@bmac65]

You ROCK !.. thanks for sharing this idea