It hasn't had a service for around 5 years and is starting to make some unusual noises.
Ive took the end cap off, and tried to lever the freewheel off with a couple of flat bladed screwdrivers - but it won't budge. I've tried to follow a few different tutorials for removing the freehub and they all say only a screwdriver is required.
Could it be seized onto something as it's not been touched for 5 years? If so... what?
Constructive advice appreciated!
Try popping the cassette back on and giving it a little 'encouragement' from behind.
ooerr, that sounds a bit rude, but it should do the trick!
Beagleboy,
Just given it some not so gettle encouragement as you suggested. I tried whacking the cassette with a 4lb hammer, using a big heavy chisel. I used a metal ruler between the chisel and the cassette to spread the pressure and minimise damage to the cassettle. I've hit it as hard as I dare (very hard) and it's still stuck firm laughing at me!
Any more (constructive) ideas anybody?
Is this where the cassette has dug into the freehub body?
Don't think so, I can get the cassette on and off easily enough. The cassette isnt the problem. The freehub body seems to be seized to the rest of the hub.
Dave.
Sorry but the cassette one is the best options, though it's handy if you have an old cassette to use & a piece of wood in my case - work your way round methodically. Just keep at it, I found mine to be a complete Mutha F***** (to use the vernacular) but eventually it did come off. Though I may have ended up using a pair of molegrips to try to waggle it as I pulled it off (oh eerrr missus), though they did slip off regularly and make a bit of a mess of the end cap (hardly the end of the world though).
EDIT: It's the end cap that will be the source of the issue, the freehub is "only" held on my this..
Your bearings have probably siezed onto the axle, drop a bolt into the drive side axle to spread the load, support the non-drive side hub shell outside of the bearing, and knock the axle through with a big hammer(don't waste time with rubber mallets etc, use a proper one as it'll need it).