Bicycle advice please! Need to remove the rear cogs.

[angelo]

Hey just relooked at your photos - ah noticed the locking you must be on about - the one locking the cassette - perhaps you DO have to remove it - that might be a rt hand thread - I thought you meant the one with the two indents inside.

[Farky]

Did you sort this?

Spliled tool shouldve just slotted in with a wee bit of a knock due to the crap inside...best to wash it out first with WD40 first.

There are variations of the splined tool from shimano and other brands...your looking the cheap shimano one which is the most popular...no idea how they name it.

Insert tool and fix to sprocket by using the skewer and bolts/qr - ie, reattach them with tool inserted so they hold the tool inplace as otherwise it will drop out when you use the spanner to release the spkt.

Now use a big spanner to rotate the tool anti clockwise until loose - then remove the skewer and use your hand to remove the rest of the way.

If youve had to hammer in the tool with force as its too big - either its a cheap tool badly made, very possible - or the wrong one..in which case the splines shouldnt have matched in the first place rather than too big.

Easy fix...buy a new wheel! Might be cheaper than a new tool, hub and all the time messing about with it anyway!



JUST REALISED - usng the skewer might be difficult as youve no axle to put it through...its basically something to clamp it to the sprocket so you can release it.

As long as you can get the axle back in and see the bearings are all in place- do you really need to remove the sprocket? More fiddly but possible to put the axle back in without removal.

[jarl]

If you still haven't got this sorted stop titting around with removing the rear cassette, unthread the nuts and cones on one side of the new axle, chuck a load of grease on it, thread it through then put the nuts/cones on the other side. Might need a cone spanner for tightening, or might be able to get away with a thin adjustable. Tighten the cone until there's no play but the bearings don't grind, then tighten the nut onto the cone. Might have to repeat that last stage a few times....

Also, chain whip is needed to remove cassette's, but not to tighten them- they tighten against the freehub ratchets, as discussed but loosening them can be a right pain in the arse (I really struggled first cassette I removed- you have to put so much force you think you're definitely going to break it to loosen it, then it makes a noise that makes you sure you've definitely broken it, then you realise that it's worked and all intact )

edit: Just realised, I gave you the axle replacement routine for screw on freehubs. If it's not then it'll have a third set of bearings in there somewhere which warrants removal of the rear cassette after all, and even if it's screw on you might not be able to fit the nuts through the freehub hole.



BMX freehubs are the worst, as there's no 'standardish' tool for removing them. That's big hammer+drift, and randomly hope it loosens before you run out of metal

[DaveS]

I haven't sorted this yet, I walked away.
I have managed to get the gear's removed quite happily and it makes no difference they could have stayed on.

There are no locking tabs that I can see anywhere.

I have soaked the whole lot in wd40 and also penetrating fluid, not tried it again yet. Might try some heat.

I have to dismantle as when the axle broke it shagged the internal bearings that i can see but can't access until i get this bit out.
Might be easier for a new wheel but I'll keep going at this for a bit as there's no rush.
Thanks for all the help and advice.

[AlanH]

If you're up this way at all, drop in with your wheel. I've been building bicycle wheels for 30 years and come across my fair share of stubborn cassettes. Worst case scenario if the bearing damage is extensive - new hub and re-lace the wheel.

You normally use the extractor with the axle in place. If the old one completely broke up, you may need to temporarily fit the new one to get the cassette off.

Let me know if you want to drop it off here