Stuck cassette lockring

[Holdsworth]

The lockring that holds my 11-32t, 8 speed, Shimano cassette is stuck fast. The thing is due a replacement soon and I already have one ready to be fitted along with a new chain. I had bought a tool kit from EBC at the same time as the cassette with the intention of replacing it myself. It includes a cassette removal tool for the purpose as well as a chain whip.

I can get the tool inserted into the splines on the lockring and it will move 1 "notch" either way when worked on with the large allen key which fits into the tool. It just won't budge any further and is seriously hurting my hands for no result.

Any ideas?

The Park Tool page with video make it look all too easy. Using the same technique I can't make it move! Greasy and raw hands now!

 

[derrick]

It's just tight, it should undo anti clockwise, try extending the handle by putting a pole of some sort to extend it.

 

[jim55]

yeah ,u cant exert the required torque with a wee allen key , icrease the leverage and itl prob come off ,even looping a ring spanner on the end of the allen key will prob do it

 

[HLaB]

As said its just tight; add some penetrating oil and leave for a while with a break hopefully it'll come off and remember to grease the lock when you put it back (or a new cassette on).

 

[john59]

Can you insert a socket wrench in the cassette tool; I can on the one I own. As everyone else has said you need more leverage.

John

 

[Holdsworth]

More leverage wouldn't help I don't think, the force on the chain whip is too much for my hands to stop it from moving as it is. The allen key is around 6" long and I can get quite a bit of force on it.

 

[Peteaud]

Its a case of more leverage, but the position of the whip tool will make things easy / difficult.


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9Oek25xKJ0


Forget the allen key, use a spanner.

 

[fatblokish]

In the past I have held the chain whip in a vice. This then allows you to hold the wheel instead of the whip, giving you greater torque. And then I used a ring spanner to increase the torque on the allen key.

Depends if you have a vice...

 

[Red Light]

You don't stand a chance with a 6" allen key even on one that is not tight. You need a big spanner. If the chain whip is also a problem and you have a vice, clamp a bit of old chain in the vice, stand the wheel on top of the vice, loop the chain over the cassette (big ring) and then apply spanner to the cassette removal tool. Best done with the tyre left on and pumped up hard.

If you don't have a vice a workmate will do but you will need to pass a nail through the bush at the end of the chain, drop the chain between the two sides of the workmate and then clamp it up enough just to hold the chain in place. The nail then acts to stop the chain pulling out when you apply some grunt to the cassette

And you are turning it the right way aren't you? Without the chainwhip the cassette should turn on the freewheel if you are turning the lockring the right way.

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

Its a case of more leverage, but the position of the whip tool will make things easy / difficult.

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9Oek25xKJ0
Forget the allen key, use a spanner.

Agreed. The video did not show a good position to exert power though. What I usually do is kind of sit on a chair/bench with the wheel standing on the floor in front of me with the cassette pointing away, hold the chain whip on my left hand and spanner/big hex key/remover tool on my right hand (at 3 and 9 o'clock of the wheel) and push/lean on both hands. Never failed with any cassette, yet.

 

[Peteaud]

I stand the wheel up as well.

 

[accountantpete]

Very occasionally I have been forced to admit defeat and have carefully hacksawed through a spacer, taken it off, knocked the bottom sprocket away from the lockring and then applied the above removal technique.

 

[Holdsworth]

I have tried again using the method as shown in the video, clamping the removal tool snugly down with the QR nut and using a spanner to act on the tool. But even with the wheel standing up and the weight of my body pushing down on the spanner (yes in an anti-clockwise direction) it still won't move a mm. The last two sprockets seem to move a notch together with a bit of force but the ring itself won't move at all. I feel that I am close to breaking the chain tool if I try any harder.

Oh and just sliced my hand when the chain tool slipped under my weight and I fell towards the teeth!

 

[derrick]

As a last resort try hitting the lock ring tool with a wooden malet and try and shock it of, if not it's a trip to the LBS.

 

[Peteaud]

I have tried again using the method as shown in the video, clamping the removal tool snugly down with the QR nut and using a spanner to act on the tool. But even with the wheel standing up and the weight of my body pushing down on the spanner (yes in an anti-clockwise direction) it still won't move a mm. The last two sprockets seem to move a notch together with a bit of force but the ring itself won't move at all. I feel that I am close to breaking the chain tool if I try any harder.

Oh and just sliced my hand when the chain tool slipped under my weight and I fell towards the teeth!

Well in that case