Bicycle advice please! Need to remove the rear cogs.

[DaveS]

Hi,
Do we have any resident bicycle guru's?? I seem to remember we do.
Anyway.
I have a cheap bike, but the lad has been riding it and snapped the rear axle.
I've bought a new axle from Halfords for a tenner but I can't see how to get the rear gears off.
I think I need a special tool. Does anyone have one that I can borrow and post back?
Here's some pics.

[angelo]

There is a special tool and they differ depending on the gear set - probably easiest to pop the wheel down to Halfords - it only takes seconds to do.

[jasonbc]

Top advice don't get one!!!!!!!!!

Why pay all that money like road tax, insurance fuel and maintenance then leave the bloody thing in your garage.
ride the motorbike

but looking at your photo is that a black ring with slots in it a nut with a lefthand thread. Try tapping it with a hammer and punch

[winxp-master]

A tenner, it'd have been cheaper to goto the booty and buy a wheel

You are supposed to use a special tool but what i used to do (and has been mentioned) is use a flat head screwdriver and tap it round with a hammer. Used to work for the crank too

If i had the proper tool you could have borrowed it, i'm sure someone must have one?

[DaveS]

Top advice don't get one!!!!!!!!!
Why pay all that money like road tax, insurance fuel and maintenance then leave the bloody thing in your garage.
ride the motorbike

Ummmm I already have one thanks and I can't ride my motorbike around Center Parcs!!!

but looking at your photo is that a black ring with slots in it a nut with a lefthand thread. Try tapping it with a hammer and punch

Done that... it's not moving.

[DaveS]

A tenner, it'd have been cheaper to goto the booty and buy a wheel

You are supposed to use a special tool but what i used to do (and has been mentioned) is use a flat head screwdriver and tap it round with a hammer. Used to work for the crank too

If i had the proper tool you could have borrowed it, i'm sure someone must have one?

Yes but I think the tool fits inside the hole and fits in the internal splines, I can't get in there with a screwdriver to smack it. I'm also not sure whether the outer locknut thing needs to move as well.

[angelo]

They are not left hand thread -the normal pedaling motion tightens them so it lefty loosey to undo BUT they are always tight hence the splined bits

The normal way is to mount the special tool in a strong vice put the wheel onto it and use the wheel to undo it

The tools used to be cheap and Hlfords used to sell them

There is another tool like a chain and handle to get it tight on after but it tightens with pedaling just be careful for the first steep hills as ther will be some slip if the tool is not used perhaps

[angelo]

Yes but I think the tool fits inside the hole and fits in the internal splines, I can't get in there with a screwdriver to smack it. I'm also not sure whether the outer locknut thing needs to move as well.


DON't take the outer lock thing off -all the bearings will fall out!

[DaveS]

DON't take the outer lock thing off -all the bearings will fall out!

Ahhh ok that's the advice I was after. I least I know not to mess with that bit then!

[Austin]

I picked up a complete "park tools" tool roll a while back that has several special tools for removing cassettes. PM me your address Dave and I will post 'em down. One is bound to fit. You also need a "whip" (bit like a oil filter removal tool) to hold the cassette while it is undone.