How to remove a stubborn cassette?

[Cut_in]

Right my cassette has broken, I did purge it and it worked for a couple of weeks but to day it has completely broke. I have the cassette removal tool and a chain whip, but we can not get the cassette bolt to loosen at all! 3 people have tried now and it is not budging. Has anyone here got any suggestions?

[Brucey]

I usually hold the cassette tool in the wheel using the QR skewer, so it can't easily pop out.

I then put the tool in a bench vice.

I then use a pair of chain whips on the cassette.

My chain whips are each nearly two feet long.

If this does not work (and in fairness it has yet to fail..... ) then I'd suggest that you get the angle grinder out and simply grind away the lockring until the cassette is loose. Once the tension is off it, I'd expect you to be able to undo the lockring remains OK.

cheers

[Valbrona]

Are you sure it is a cassette and not a freewheel?

[Cut_in]

Are you sure it is a cassette and not a freewheel?

I don't know what is broken, so I'm just replacing the freewheel and the cassette as I have spares. The problem is when I try to peddle forward it doesn't bite and gives the feeling as if you peddled the cranks backwards.

[Cut_in]

I usually hold the cassette tool in the wheel using the QR skewer, so it can't easily pop out.

I then put the tool in a bench vice.

I then use a pair of chain whips on the cassette.

My chain whips are each nearly two feet long.

If this does not work (and in fairness it has yet to fail..... ) then I'd suggest that you get the angle grinder out and simply grind away the lockring until the cassette is loose. Once the tension is off it, I'd expect you to be able to undo the lockring remains OK.

cheers

Angle grinder is looking likely

[andrewjoseph]

Right my cassette has broken, I did purge it and it worked for a couple of weeks but to day it has completely broke. I have the cassette removal tool and a chain whip, but we can not get the cassette bolt to loosen at all! 3 people have tried now and it is not budging. Has anyone here got any suggestions?

um... what bolt? when using the lockring removal tool there should be no bolt. unless you use the QR as Brucey states.

[cycleruk]

Are you sure it is a cassette and not a freewheel?

I don't know what is broken, so I'm just replacing the freewheel and the cassette as I have spares. The problem is when I try to peddle forward it doesn't bite and gives the feeling as if you peddled the cranks backwards.

We need to clarify what you actually have on the bike?
Have a read of this:-
http://sheldonbrown.com/free-k7.html
From what you have said above it sounds like the "freehub" is at fault - assuming you have a "cassette" system.
The cassette may not need replacing but obviously has to come off so that the freehub can be replaced.

[Brucey]

I agree that you need to be 100% sure what you have there. There are four possible options with the cogs still on the wheel;

1. You have a standard screw on freewheel. Splined remover goes in vice, turn wheel to remove freewheel from wheel complete.

2. You have a standard freewheel and it doesn't come off; splines are ruined and/or tool is broken. Undo freewheel lockring (LH thread), and freewheel falls apart. Centre part of freewheel goes in vice, then turn wheel to remove.

3. You have a shimano style cassette; the cogs come off using remover in bench vice, and chain whips.

4. You have a cassette hub and you want to remove both sprockets and freewheel body from the hub. You need to remove the axle, then use a tool of some kind on a hollow bolt within the hub. The tool type and the direction to turn the wheel will vary with the exact model of hub.

cheers