How to remove a freewheel...

[[XAP]Bob]

When the freewheel has failed, and freely rotates in both directions?

[fausto99]

What does the centre part look like? Does it take a Shimano splined tool or is it an old school type that takes a tool with two dogs?
The fact it rotates both ways is irrelevant as you could not have used a chain whip to remove it anyway.

[Brucey]

When the freewheel has failed, and freely rotates in both directions?

a screw-on freewheel? ….as normal; it is not a requirement that the freewheel is in working order to be able to fit and use a remover on it.

cheers

[Mick F]

If it's a screw-on freewheel, it must unscrew.

All freewheels have a tool to lock onto their boss, and with a spanner or a bench vice, can be turned anticlockwise to remove them.

[531colin]

When the freewheel has failed, and freely rotates in both directions?

Its knackered anyway, so destructive removal is in order. https://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help/freewheel-destructive-removal
You don't need a pin spanner to remove the first bit, a hammer and nail/punch will do

[gregoryoftours]

A faulty ratchet mechanism makes no difference to removal of either a freewheel or a cassette from a freehub.

[[XAP]Bob]

Has it really been that long since I’ve dealt with a freewheel that I’ve just forgotten...

Of course it must come off that way... else it would *undo* in use... I’m just being really dense.

I’ll have another look in the morning, but I think it’s a two prong doodad.

[jb]

Wheel it's free advise

[rogerzilla]

Once you have them stripped down to the last threaded bit, they sometimes undo without a fight. Regina ones certainly do. I think the other bits squeeze the threads or at least make the thing radially stiffer. A bit like drilling the head off a screw.