suntour 4 prong freewheel blues

[bicycletricycle]

I thought, it will be okay, it isn't one of those miserable 2 prong ones. I was wrong. All the teeth basically broke off at the same time!!!!!!!!!! I wasnt even trying that hard !!!!!

Cassettes are pretty cool I guess..........

[jc031699]

Originally Posted by bicycletricycle

I thought, it will be okay, it isn't one of those miserable 2 prong ones. I was wrong. All the teeth basically broke off at the same time!!!!!!!!!! I wasnt even trying that hard !!!!!

Cassettes are pretty cool I guess..........

I had one that was so hard to remove that I had to strap the wheel to a fence post, fix the freewheel tool in place using a QR skewer, and turn the tool using a socket/breaker bar/cheater pipe combo. I couldn't get enough leverage putting the freewheel tool in a vise and turning the wheel.

Oh, and I seem to recall that PB Blaster and a mini butane torch were in the mix somewhere too.

[unterhausen]

BITD, we had an 8' long bench that was tied to the wall with a big vise at one end. Sometimes it took two people to get a freewheel off. I don't think I have seen a 4 prong tool break like that though. We certainly went through freewheel tools. Did you have it held on with a QR?

[bicycletricycle]

Originally Posted by unterhausen

BITD, we had an 8' long bench that was tied to the wall with a big vise at one end. Sometimes it took two people to get a freewheel off. I don't think I have seen a 4 prong tool break like that though. We certainly went through freewheel tools. Did you have it held on with a QR?

What do I look like? Some kind of amateur ???????
Yes, tool held on with QR, tool was in good shape. I only rode that bike a couple hundred miles but I did put that freewheel on 10 years ago

[witcombusa]

Originally Posted by bicycletricycle

What do I look like? Some kind of amateur ???????
Yes, tool held on with QR, tool was in good shape. I only rode that bike a couple hundred miles but I did put that freewheel on 10 years ago

Always clean the hub threads and freewheel threads, coat each surface with an assembly paste and you're set. It will come off the next time you try. Unfortunately many were not put on that way the first time (or the last time prior to you getting the wheel) and you have to get creative to get them off. The correct freewheel tool in good condition is a good start. After locking it in place with the QR I usually put it in the big bench vice and torque the wheel like you're driving a big old school truck. Only once I think I had to disassemble the freewheel and put a BIG pipe wrench on the inner guts to get it off the wheel.

[bicycletricycle]

took cogs and carrier and pawls off, huge pipe wrench no worky but it does put enough torque on to visibly slacken half of the spokes which is cool to see.

I guess I'm into heat and PB blaster now, or maybe i could dremel part way through and then chisel if off? probably be lucky to not damage the threads though.

[bulgie]

Thermal expansion rate of aluminum is higher than for steel, so heat tends to make the hub expand to fit even tighter in the freewheel.

I'm not saying don't try heat, it works wonders often enough, but know the expansion rate is working against you so heat only the freewheel (not the hub) and work fast before too much of the heat conducts in to the hub.

Cold might work for you, shrinks the hub more than the freewheel, but most people don't have a walk-in freezer.

Good luck!

Mark B in Seattle

[bicycletricycle]

In this case I think heat might get the penetrant to work in deeper and maybe just kinda get things moving. As you stated. It will work against me from a clearance standpoint but threads have plenty of room in them, it’s not like It was a press fit.

Originally Posted by bulgie

Thermal expansion rate of aluminum is higher than for steel, so heat tends to make the hub expand to fit even tighter in the freewheel.

I'm not saying don't try heat, it works wonders often enough, but know the expansion rate is working against you so heat only the freewheel (not the hub) and work fast before too much of the heat conducts in to the hub.

Cold might work for you, shrinks the hub more than the freewheel, but most people don't have a walk-in freezer.

Good luck!

Mark B in Seattle

[buddybikes]

Nothing more challenging than a regina

[merckx]

Originally Posted by steveandbarb1

Nothing more challenging than a regina

Those two-pronged little massey furguson regina freewheels were a real nutcracker. I gooned-up a few of those in my day.

I usually had to use a chisel to square off the sides so that I could have another go at it.

I miss regina freewheels. They were the best.

[Peter P.]

Maybe your 4-prong tool had already seen better days.

Wanna try again? I have one.

[bicycletricycle]

Originally Posted by Peter P.

Maybe your 4-prong tool had already seen better days.

Wanna try again? I have one.

It was a pretty good tool, I chose the best one of the 3 or 4 kicking around

[oliver1850]

Originally Posted by bicycletricycle

It was a pretty good tool, I chose the best one of the 3 or 4 kicking around

Did the tool fail or the notches in the freewheel? I'm guessing the tool. My solution: clamp your next best tool in with a bolt and rattle it with an impact gun.

[bicycletricycle]

Originally Posted by oliver1850

Did the tool fail or the notches in the freewheel? I'm guessing the tool. My solution: clamp your next best tool in with a bolt and rattle it with an impact gun.

freewheel, 2 prongs broke right off

[giordana93]

I think you need to think of penetrant getting a few days time to work itself into the crannies time. more pb blaster or whatever flavor you have on hand. heat gun every once in a while would not hurt, but sometimes the penetrant needs time to do its thing