Cycling UK Forum

I have a chain whip which I thought was the right tool to remove a fixed sprocket from a wheel, however what ever I do with it slips and in any event fear I will have nothing like the strenght to shift it even if I could get it to bind securely.Any other methods of getting the thing off(16 teeth)?
I have removed the lock ring.
How is the chain whip suppost to work or is it just for holding sprockets on blocks?

Remove lock-ring (done).
Put wheel back in.
Back pedal hard - off it comes.

If it is rusted in place, soaking in WD40 or something first minght help.

The fixed sprocket hub has a double thread - the outer retaining ring is left-handed with c-spanner slots and acts as a locking ring while the actual fixed sprocket is right-handed otherwise when pedalling backwards (I know you wouldn't do this!) the sprocket would unscrew. My Campag fixed hub has this arrangement so I assume that yours has the same.
A chain wrench should remove the sprocket easily unless it has corroded on to the hub. In this case give it a good shot of 'Plus-Gas' (obtainable from any good motor factor and let it soak for five of ten minutes.

to get more leverage make your own chain whip. i used a long (2ft) piece of flat bar and used split links to fasten on both pieces of chain. haven't met a sproket that won't come off yet.
then as above make sure it's unscrewing in the right direction

If the sprocket teeth are very worn that may be why you are having problems with the chainwhip.

You could try this trick (in reverse as the illustrations are for tightening the sprocket).

http://204.73.203.34/fisso/eng/schpignone.htm

Put some padding (eg section of old tyre) round the bottom bracket shell or you will damage the paint.

See http://fixiefaqs.xwiki.com/xwiki/bin/view/Main/ for more info on all things fixie

Hi Malpas

You’ve got all the good advice above, and I’m sure by now you will have managed to get the sprocket off – the method given by Andrew_S of just using the chain with the wheel in the bike is very powerful, though it may scratch your paint and tends to stretch the chain too, I think, if the sprocket is very tight. If all these fail, there’s one further method I’ve found that will get the hardest little b*gger off, no matter how tight it is!

Take the wheel out of the bike, take an old piece of chain and wrap it twice around the sprocket (that’s to protect its teeth), then, holding the wheel horizontally (sprocket side down), clamp the chain-covered sprocket tightly in a sturdy vice (of course, you have taken the lock ring off). Make sure all the spokes are clear of the vice jaws, and then holding the wheel like a big steering wheel, turn it gently anti-clockwise. You’ve got plenty of leverage (the whole wheel), so I’ve never found it requires much force, and I’ve never found a sprocket that can’t be taken off in this way.

Let us know how you get on.

if the sprocket is 1/4 wide, and the whip 3/32, then it will slip.

is this the case?
have you got an knackered old 1/4 chain in a dark corner of the shed to re-make your whip with?