Lubricating the Freewheel or Cassette

Although you won’t be overhauling a freewheel or cassette the way you would with a bottom bracket or headset, you can do some simple lubrication of the bearings using a lightweight oil.

Follow these steps to lubricate the freewheel or cassette while it’s on the wheel:

1. After you’ve cleaned the freewheel or cassette (see the preceding sec­tion), wipe off any excess degreaser and let it dry.

2. Lay down the wheel with the freewheel on its side, with the freewheel facing up.

3. Using a light to medium oil, drip or spray the oil into the gap between the freewheel and the center, fixed part of the hub axle, while you’re spinning the free hub in a counterclockwise direction.

When you see oil coming through the other side, there is sufficient oil to lube the pawls and bearings. (In general, the higher the quality of the freewheel, the tighter the tolerances and the longer this takes.)

4. Use a rag to wipe off any excess lubrication between the cogs.

Removing a Freewheel or Cassette

You’ll have to remove a freewheel or cassette in the following situations:

✓ If you’re replacing the freewheel or cassette

✓ If you’re replacing a spoke and need to insert it into the flange (the part that flares out at the ends of the hubs)

✓ If you’re overhauling the hubs

✓ If you’re replacing the hubs

In the following sections, we walk you through removing a freewheel and removing a cassette, as well as removing individual cogs and removing the free hub.

Removing a freewheel

If your bike has a freewheel, follow these steps to remove it. (If you’re not sure whether your bike has a freewheel or cassette, turn to “The Dirt on Freewheels and Cassettes,” earlier in this chapter.)

1. Remove the rear wheel from the bike (see Chapter 7).

2. Remove the quick-release skewer or axle nut.

3. Stand the wheel up on the floor.

4. Attach the freewheel remover tool to the center of the freewheel.

Be sure to use the correct type of freewheel remover tool. Check with your local bike shop or read your bike owner’s manual to find out which model is appropriate for your freewheel.

To hold the freewheel removal tool in place, use the axle nut or insert the quick-release skewer through the center of the tool and tighten the nut to hold it in place.

5. Using an adjustable wrench, turn the freewheel remover in a counter­clockwise direction.

6. When the freewheel remover loosens, remove the quick-release skewer or axle nut.

7. Continue to unscrew the freewheel remover either by hand or with the wrench, until the freewheel is unthreaded from the hub.

Removing a freewheel, which tightens at every pedal stroke, can often be extremely difficult. If you can’t remove it with a full-size crescent wrench, more leverage is needed. You may be able to use an extension pipe or, more

effectively, a heavy-duty vice (maybe borrowed from your local bike shop). Being unable to remove a freewheel is a very common frustration of home mechanics.