Can't get the cassette off!

[Globalti]

Soaking in WD40 won't make any difference at all. It's been over-tightened.

 

[albion]

You think WD40 will not do not do what WD40 does?

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

I have yet to fail loosening one by sitting on a chair, over the wheel which has the cassette pointing away into the horizon, and pressing down with the left hand on the chain whip set at 9 o'clock* position, while pressing a (chain whip length) spanner down at 3 o'clock* position. This way you can easily get into a position to allow you to put nearly your whole weight on the tools, safely. It is worthwhile putting the chain whip on one of the larger sprockets so that quite a few links are engaged, but not large enough to create too much torque between the two tools.

* since you will be leaning over it these positions correspond to when you are looking at the wheel upside down

 

[Shut Up Legs]

I have yet to fail loosening one by sitting on a chair, over the wheel which has the cassette pointing away into the horizon, and pressing down with the left hand on the chain whip set at 9 o'clock* position, while pressing a (chain whip length) spanner down at 3 o'clock* position. This way you can easily get into a position to allow you to put nearly your whole weight on the tools, safely. It is worthwhile putting the chain whip on one of the larger sprockets so that quite a few links are engaged, but not large enough to create too much torque between the two tools.

* since you will be leaning over it these positions correspond to when you are looking at the wheel upside down

Same here, except instead of a chair, I normally just lean the wheel against my knees. I haven't had to remove a firmly-stuck cassette before, though, but when I install a cassette, I do it up good and tight. I have a lockring tool which (a) fits perfectly on the lockrings with no movement and (b) has a pin in the middle to help stabilise it.

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

Use of a vice and a chain whip with a bar can be needed sometimes.

Before I converted my cellar into a workshop and didn't have a bench with vice, I took any stuck cassettes to LBS. (Stripping down 2nd user bikes quite often, it was a job I needed to do regularly) I tried to time such trips with the need to buy something, then he'd do it gratis - if I didn't need anything I'd drop him the price of a pint for shifting it - the arrangement seemed to work to mutual benefit

 

[evo456]

What kind of spanner are you using? Open end/adjustable spanners may not give enough leverage. Best to get a combination wrench where you can get the closed side over - I did a freewheel recently and it came off easily versus the open end spanner.

 

[hensteeth]

Armed with my toolbox that I bought from Aldi a little while ago, I tried to change the cassette from my old wheel to the new one I've been given. Chain whip on...funny round tool thing slotted around the nut locking the cassette...mole grips applied to funny round tool thing ...pressure applied...hernia here I come!
I just can't move it! It's completely seized! Any ideas?
I thought about WD40 but then was worried that this might affect the bearings of the wheel.
A spoke went on the old wheel and it's completely buckled so not going any where with these wheels until I get it sorted...
Pearls of wisdom gratefully accepted!
Russ

I got the same tool kit and the freewheel remover was rubbish. I had to buy a better one from lbs which fitted the splines properly. Then I got a 23mm socket and used my car torque wrench, which is about 18 inches long, on full torque, and it came off no bother. This was after struggling for ages with other remover and normal spanners etc.
It is easier to do it if you keep the tyre on so you can grab hold better!

 

[Easytigers]

I got the same tool kit and the freewheel remover was rubbish. I had to buy a better one from lbs which fitted the splines properly. Then I got a 23mm socket and used my car torque wrench, which is about 18 inches long, on full torque, and it came off no bother. This was after struggling for ages with other remover and normal spanners etc.
It is easier to do it if you keep the tyre on so you can grab hold better!

Thanks...had another half-hearted attempt but am completely wussing out and taking it in to our site supervisor to sort out (he is an ex-racer and there's not much he can't fettle!)

 

[albion]

"I had to buy a better one"

Keep it. You might just realise what is is when you decide to upgrade.

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

I got the same tool kit and the freewheel remover was rubbish. I had to buy a better one from lbs which fitted the splines properly.

There is a chance that you were using the freewheel tool for cassette or vice versa. It is also not uncommon for sellers to mislabel one as the other. Although having the same number of splines and nearly the same size and might even fit with some "persuasion", they are different. First one below is for freewheel.

 

[Scoosh]

Are they different tools for Campag and Shimano cassettes ? I've always thought the 'other' tool I have was for Campag but maybe it's the freewheel one ...

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

Are they different tools for Campag and Shimano cassettes ? I've always thought the 'other' tool I have was for Campag but maybe it's the freewheel one ...

Campag's is different again. Diameter is smallest of the three.

It wouldn't surprise me if most of the chewed up lockrings are the results of someone's gentle persuasion of the wrong tool to fit, with a lump hammer...

 

[ColinJ]

I confess to making that mistake a few years ago!

 

[Easytigers]

Mine was too loose...like an egg in a bucket!

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

I confess to making that mistake a few years ago!

Essential step to qualify as a decent mechanic that! The other is stripping square tapered crank threads by leaving the isis/octalink cap on crank extractors...