I’m trying to remove the nut so I can replace the freewheel cassette thing but I can’t remove it since it’s rusted I’ve tried using WD-40 but it didn’t work
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1Get a rust dissolver like the the Rust-Oleum one.– Daniel R HicksCommented Jul 10, 2022 at 3:07
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Nobody has yet spotted that the sprocket is held on with a snap-ring. You need a little screwdriver to remove it and then the thing will slip right off. The nuts don't look too bad, you need a decent set of cone spaners if you still wish to remove the axle– NoiseCommented Jul 10, 2022 at 16:23
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@JoeK great spotting - can you make that an answer please ?– Criggie ♦Commented Jul 10, 2022 at 23:21
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2 Answers
Can you remove the nut from the non-drive side? If so, you should be able to remove the entire axle and either replace it, remove the drive side nut with the axle out of the hub (out it in a vise etc), or even reinstall adjusting the non-drive side.
If the non-drive side is also seized (likely), Rust dissolver (as already suggested) does not work, application of heat might help.
Personally I would resort sacrificing the nut fairly early - nut and axles are cheap to replace, and a lot of time and knuckle skin can be wasted getting a seized nut off. A nut splitter would be the goto tool, or drilling the nut flats and spitting with a screwdriver (refer How to remove this stripped brake bolt?, it has a lot of answers that a relevant to this situation. )
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I always go for plan B - oxy-acetylene - which has never ever let me down! Get the offending item nice and cherry-red, and try again with the spanner/socket. If not, plan C is to blow it off, again with oxy-acetylene. Very carefully (it's hardly a diy job) but the thread can be saved by someone who knows what they're doing.
That was the only way to remove a trailer bearing years ago abroad - luckily, the recovery left me in a knacker's yard, with o-a available, although it took hours of persuasion to let them let me use it, and seconds to do the job!
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1If you go this route, just make sure you thoroughly clean and re-grease the wheel's bearings afterwards. Heating that nut to cherry-red is not going to be kind to whatever lubricant might be in those bearings. You should probably thoroughly clean and re-grease the bearings if you use a rust dissolver or penetrating oil on the hub anyway. Commented Jul 10, 2022 at 19:07
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I understand your point, but that level of heat is one step away from destructive removal. A useful level of heat can be attained with a hot air gun and brings less risk. Even a hairdryer can be sufficient (though clean it before returning :))– Criggie ♦Commented Jul 10, 2022 at 23:18
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1@Criggie not to mention a lot more people own a heat gun than a gas ax Commented Jul 11, 2022 at 0:09