Freewheel removal...

[Scott Douglas]

Friend of mine has a broken spoke so I'm trying to fix it for him. I got the wheel torn down to the point of being ready to put the new spoke in.
Problem is, even though the spoke goes thru the hub flange opposite of the freewheel, it would appear you have to remove the freewheel so you don't bend the spoke to get it in.
I looked at the freewheel/axle and there's no apparent mechanism to get the freewheel off. There is a 'race' just inside the outer gear that has two 'holes' for a spanner to grab it but that's for the freewheel bearings. I don't think it's for removing the freewheel from the hub itself.

Help!

This is an old [EDIT], it's a Motobecane mountain bike wheel hub if that makes any difference.
I knew we should have taken the wheel with us when we went to get the new spoke.

[john70t]

Pics are worth 1000 words unless someone is proficient.

[Scott Douglas]

Sorry, I don't have pics. I left the wheel at my friend's house.

[herr_oberst]

You need one of these. Most likely the one in the middle judging by your description.

[ramonesfreak]

It’s simple but you need the specific size freewheel tool for that brand freewheel


Watch

[Scott Douglas]

Here's a pic of the wheel I'm dealing with.
The spoke would need to come in from the far side of the near flange.

In order to do that I have to remove the freewheel from the far side flange.

[Scott Douglas]

Yeah, I think another trip to the bike shop will be in order.

[Zeke]

I don't see why a gentle bend to accommodate that won't work. By the time you tighten it that has to be able to pull any wave you might not get out. Tweak it with a rubber mallet as you cinch it up. What do you have to lose? One spoke?

[Scott Douglas]

I hear you Zeke, but it's more of a bend than my ex-machinist self is willing to put into the spoke.
It's going to be hard enough with the freewheel off as the threads on the spoke have to be very straight to get thru the hole in the flange.

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

You need one of these. Most likely the one in the middle judging by your description.

This.

[john70t]

Never run into that situation.
With the wheel off, you should be able to hook it into the hub and push it through.
This might require loosening all the other spokes and starting over from scratch..but so be it.

Do the four directions equally very carefully so no run-out or oblong until finger tight.
Then do the ones in between the same until all begin to get snug.
Then incrementally tighten all.

It takes a long time to do spokes. Not a pro at lacing but done a few.
Get comfy with a nice seat and music.
After loading something will probably shift and need more fine tuning. Small adjustments are better.
Put some blue tape to mark the start/stop of rim wobble.

[otto_kretschmer]

??

hope this helps

it's on an old Peugeot



A long time ago I had a pair of chain whips and those were used to remove sprockets from the freewheel.

[look 171]

GEt us a pic of the other side with the wheel off, pull the skewer too. Judging from your two dimples description, it just may be the center tool from Herr's pic is needed. Tome to visit your local bike shop.

[Scott Douglas]

Thanks guys.
I have a feeling (and it's not a good one) that I'm dealing with what is shown in otto's video link.
This brings back memories of when I had to take the freewheel off my JC Higgin's 10-speed when I bent the rim. Getting that freewheel back together was a nightmare. This was when I was in Jr High so it was some time ago.
Is there a trick to keeping the 'ratcheting' pieces collapsed so you can put the freewheel back in place without fighting them too along with all those small ball bearings?

[herr_oberst]

Scott, don't overthink this. You're bike isn't an old Peugeot, its an old-ish Mtn bike using probably Shimano or Suntour (or maybe Sugino) components. Probably Shimano, and the freehub will come off with a pronged remover like the one I showed you in the picture.

Don't try and chisel it off with a big screwdriver or anything, just take it in, have the shop take the freehub off and stick the new spoke on. Pay the guy, tell your friend it's fixed and put it behind you. If you were close to my house I'd do it for free for you in a few minutes.

[sc_rufctr]

Freehubs have a lot going for them. They last forever and they're cheap.

Have you ever had to remove a stubborn Lock Ring on a Cassette? Aside from an appropriate adapter you'll also need one of these.

[rockfan4]

Originally Posted by otto_kretschmer

??

hope this helps

it's on an old Peugeot



A long time ago I had a pair of chain whips and those were used to remove sprockets from the freewheel.

This is terrible advice. He didn't remove the freewheel, he disassembled that. The only reason you would ever do that is if you were stuck in the middle of nowhere, had no access to tools, and the bicycle was your only way back to civilization.

[mocha07]

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

Friend of mine has a broken spoke so I'm trying to fix it for him. I got the wheel torn down to the point of being ready to put the new spoke in.
Problem is, even though the spoke goes thru the hub flange opposite of the freewheel, it would appear you have to remove the freewheel so you don't bend the spoke to get it in.
I looked at the freewheel/axle and there's no apparent mechanism to get the freewheel off. There is a 'race' just inside the outer gear that has two 'holes' for a spanner to grab it but that's for the freewheel bearings. I don't think it's for removing the freewheel from the hub itself.

Help!

This is an old [EDIT], it's a Motobecane mountain bike wheel hub if that makes any difference.
I knew we should have taken the wheel with us when we went to get the new spoke.

There are numerous videos on you tube covering this,step by step.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by rockfan4

This is terrible advice. He didn't remove the freewheel, he disassembled that. The only reason you would ever do that is if you were stuck in the middle of nowhere, had no access to tools, and the bicycle was your only way back to civilization.

Looked a little dry in there. Maybe a good thing he accessed the ball bearings. Kludge work beating on it.

[otto_kretschmer]

Originally Posted by rockfan4

This is terrible advice. He didn't remove the freewheel, he disassembled that. The only reason you would ever do that is if you were stuck in the middle of nowhere, had no access to tools, and the bicycle was your only way back to civilization.

The video I posted is probably a different freewheel, Motobecane is a French company but that mountain bike is from the 80s or 90s.