3 simple methods on how to remove a stuck freewheel cassette

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In this article I’m going to explain how to remove a stuck freewheel cassette from a rear wheel bicycle hub. In this case I’d already removed the sprockets from the freewheel body, so technically we’re only going to remove that part. Since I decided I would downgrade the Koga Miyata Adventure to its original 6-speed and buy a new freewheel, this one had to go.

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Freewheel remover tool

Since I didn’t have one I had to buy a freewheel remover. Unlike today’s cassettes which are tightened with the help of a lockring onto the splined body, freewheels contain both the body and the sprockets and are screwed onto the rear hub. To unscrew them you insert a freewheel remover into the body of the cassette and turn it counterclockwise. ]

FR 1 3 001 — Park Tool Freewheel Remover FR-1.3

I bought the Park Tool Freewheel Remover FR-1.3, but different freewheels might necessitate different methods of removing them. The freewheel has a body with 12 splines which correlate with the inside of the freewheel.

There are 2 reasons why freewheels are much more difficult to remove than your standard freehub cassette.

First, they are screwed on, and riding your bike only screws them on tighter.
Second, freewheels are made of steel thus have a tendency to corrode and seize on the rear hub.

How to remove a stuck freewheel using an adjustable wrench.

There are several methods in when you try to remove a stuck freewheel and fortunately, I only had the use the most obvious one, which is applying force with an adjustable wrench.

It didn’t go willingly so it needed a little more convincing. By moving the rear wheel upright and sitting over it, you’re in a better position to apply the necessary force to get it to loosen.

How to remove a stuck freewheel using a cheater bar

A cheater bar is a piece of pipe to extend the leverage of the adjustable wrench. More leverage means you can exert more force, it’s that simple.

How to remove a stuck freewheel using a vice

Another method to exert more force on the freewheel is by using the entire wheel as a lever. To do so you’ll need to place the freewheel remover into a vice. You have both hands free to rotate the wheel while the tool stays in place because it’s being gripped by the vice.

And that’s how you remove a stuck freewheel! If you like this article give it a thumbs up. If you have any questions or suggestions for new articles, let me know in the comments below. Cheers.