Customer Reviews

Park Tool FR-1 Freewheel Remover for Shimano Freewheels

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I used one of these to replace a Shimano MF-HG37 14-28T freewheel with an MF-HG40 14-34T freewheel.

I pulled the wheel off, pulled the quick-release skewer out, slipped this tool in, and then, using a 10" crescent wrench popped the old freewheel off instantly.

I set the wheel on the floor standing up, as if it were on a bike, with the wrench parallel to the ground. I used my weight to turn the wrench, and the tire kept the wheel from turning. No muss, no fuss.

It's a pretty simple tool, but you can't remove a freewheel without it. Like most Park Tool products I've used, this is a good quality piece and it fit snugly and precisely in my Shimano freewheel. I used a medium-sized crescent wrench to turn it, which any serious bike mechanic really should have.

This DOES remove the cheap DPN 7-speed MegaGear freewheel that came with my 2007 Schwinn Sierra GS from our local bike shop, they are also found on many other bikes in modest price category.
The tool works great.

I love the "Park" line of tools. I have worked in bikes shops, and I have always used park tools. They are durable and well made. I bought this tool to replace one that had gotten misplaced. It is a good item to have in your bike maintenance tool box. The item was received in good shape and on time.

This tool was perfect for the job. What made this job easy was the fitting chart on the Park site. It is essential to have the correct size tool. You simply find the model freewheel you have by looking on the inner frewheel cog, then match it up on the chart to find the appropriate freewheel tool.

This one looks a lot like an FR5 and I even tried to get that darn FR5 in there, but it is just slightly too big. This one fits in those vintage freewheels from shimano that sit on just about every Schwinn 10 speed made in the 70s-80s.

I used this tool to remove a 7-speed DNP freewheel from my 2008 Schwinn Avenue hybrid bike. I set the wheel on the floor standing up and used a box end wrench on the 1 inch hex head of the tool and a plastic-faced hammer to bang on the other end of the wrench. I tried just using my weight but the "spring" of the tire and spokes didn't allow it to loosen so I didn't force it. One or two moderate taps from the hammer was all that was needed. I've seen videos online where they lock this tool in a vise but I think a hammer works well too.

By the way, the original freewheel failed after 15 months. I called Pacific Cycle who distributes Schwinn to ask where I could buy a new one and they shipped me one for free, even though the bike was 3 months out of warranty. The new one looks a little different so hopefully it will last longer, I also didn't oil the first one but I do now.

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UPDATE 9/4/11:
This review is for the Park tool FR-1 which is apparently listed as the "FR-1C (Splined-Shimano & Sachs)" here now.

I have a 40 year old Schwinn tandem bicycle. I wanted to remove the 5 speed freewheel gear. After carefully inspecting it, (counting the splines) I found this. It worked like a charm. I put a 12 inch adjustable open end wrench on it, counter-clockwise smacked it with a hammer and it loosened the freewheel.

You bolt this wrench in and then start turning. The nut holds it in so it doesn't slip. The tool comes with directions and works well. Use it without the axle nut installed and it won't work. It is that simple.

The quality of this item was great. When i opened the package and inspected the item i was a tad doubtful about its strength because it feels like it would strip the splines easily. But it is a firmly built and quality item.I was impressed with the shape of the splines when i did remove my freewheel. I needed to secure the tool in the freewheel, use a 18 inch pipe wrench and had to have my friend jump on it to get the freewheel loose.