[Closed] Next botch challenge: I need to remove a cassette

Buy a chain whip 🙂

yeah - but before I do that ....

mrmoo

I had the same issue a few weeks back, when I was away from home and I needed to remove the cassette to fit a new spoke. Like you I only had the adaptor and an adjustable spanner.

The first thing I tried worked a treat. Put the bike upside down and use the chain itself whilst resisting the turning of the cranks. I don't think the wheel was in the dropouts, just somewhere neer so that I could bet a bit of the chain on the cogs. Little fiddly but very effective and a ride saver for me.

Good luck!

Screw an old chain to a piece of wood to make your own chain whip

I would also make my own chain whip. But with a piece of metal. Surely you have a drill hacksaw and some kind of metal around..

Wood would be easier as it would grip the cassette teeth better wouldn't it?

A mate suggests poking a screwdriver into the cassette from behind through the spokes to stop it turning. I wouldn't necessarily recommend it - but might work for you?

mrmoo

I had the same issue a few weeks back, when I was away from home and I needed to remove the cassette to fit a new spoke. Like you I only had the adaptor and an adjustable spanner.

The first thing I tried worked a treat. Put the bike upside down and use the chain itself whilst resisting the turning of the cranks. I don't think the wheel was in the dropouts, just somewhere neer so that I could bet a bit of the chain on the cogs. Little fiddly but very effective and a ride saver for me.

Good luck!

That was the right answer !!
You win this weeks official "Order of The Botch" - fashioned out of an old chrome moly frame and stem , with a black and red ribbon , to signify the oil and blood on the knuckles
Wear it with pride, young Jedi!

Most excellent - chuffed to bits

Don't know what to say. Thanks mum

Rather than fighting cranks and the cassette tool try this;

Bike upside down
Wheel rested on bb
Split and remove chain
Wrap chain round the chainring and bring both ends onto the TOP of cassette
As you turn the tool to remove the cassette it winds backwards, taking up the slack, both 'sides' of chain tighten and you get resistance to undo the locknut.

Variation on how to remove sprockets on fixed wheels without a chainwhip.

http://roadcyclinguk.com/riding/maintenance/fixed-wheel-sprocket-no-tools-removal-technique.html

I can't watch any longer- I'll lend you my chainwhip.
Or if you prefer, I can build you a Thermic Lance (guaranteed to get it off, but might take the edge off the gears, freewheel hub, wheel, garage floor etc)

seriously though happy to lend tools if you can't be ar53d to build one as cleverly suggested above.

Holmesey

I want a sonic screwdriver ...

We are done, I have a result

Re the chain whip. I have one. It is back home in the UK, I'm not , I'm at my flat in Germany. Needed to bring the chain whip back with me- but it has been filed somewhere. This w/e would have been idea cos I had booked in luggage for the plane.

Can't bring it back with me as it has to go into hand luggage - and they won't allow tools in hand luggage ....

Stato, that is genuis. I will try that. I'm thinking of ways to remove a cassette whilst on a tour. I know there's something called the Next Best Thing. You can also use two wheels and one chain. It's tricky and it takes two people, (one to hold the other wheel firmly doen), though it does work.