How to Make Your Own Freewheel Remover

A bicycle's freewheel attaches to the hub in the center of the rear wheel. This freewheel is surrounded by the gear cluster known as the cassette. To remove the cassette and freewheel, you must use the right tool -- referred to as a freewheel remover or, more commonly, a chain whip. A chain whip consists of a hard handle and a length of bicycle chain that wraps around the cassette, so you can turn and remove it. If you do not have one of these tools, make one yourself using scrap bike parts and a piece of wood.

Things You'll Need

  • 12-inch wooden ruler or 12-inch piece of 1-by-2-inch wood
  • Power drill
  • 10-inch length of bicycle chain
  • Chain tool
  • Extra link pin
  • 1-inch oval lock-link
  • Duct tape
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Instructions

    • 1

      Mark a spot on the upper corner of one end of the wood strip or wooden ruler. Keep it at least 1/2 inch in from the end of the wood.

    • 2

      Drill the marked spot all the way through.

    • 3

      Crack the very last link in the strip of bicycle chain, so it has an open end. Thread the open side through the end of the oval lock-link. Open the lock-link, and thread the open end through the wooden handle's drilled-out hole.

    • 4

      Close the lock-link, and add the extra pin into the last chain link. Use the chain tool to push the new link in, closing the link onto the lock-link and attaching the chain to the wooden handle.

    • 5

      Wrap the bottom half of the wooden handle with duct tape as a smooth surface for use.