Repair guides › Drivetrain

Remove and install a freewheel

Cogs and ratchet in one piece that threads onto the hub. Common on budget bikes up to 7-speed. Pedaling tightens it. The hub axle is unsupported at the right end, so axles bend more often.

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Tools

• Bike grease: Park Tool PPL-1 PolyLube 1000 ($)
• Freewheel remover (Shimano splines): Park Tool FR-1.3 ($)
• 12" adjustable wrench: Crescent 12 inch adjustable wrench ($)

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Steps

1. Remove the QR. Fit the freewheel tool and hold it in with the QR (nut loose by a turn).
2. Wrench counter-clockwise hard. Once it cracks free, remove the QR and unscrew.
3. Grease the hub threads, thread the new freewheel on by hand. Pedaling tightens it.

Diagram

Signs it needs doing

• Bent rear axle
• Freewheel slips (pawls)
• Wobble

Problems this fixes

• Chain skips or jumps when pedaling hard