Rear cassette broke - dilema!

[AWG]

Uphill ride at the weekend and the rear cassette went clang! Now it spins freely in both directions! How on earth can I remove it!

Any advice most welcome.
Andy

[Kell]

It could be the splines rather than the cassette - but you'll only be able to see that when you take it off.

To get it off you need a chain whip and cassette removal tool.

Could be the time to invest in a cheap bike specific tool set.

I got one a few years back that was similar to this:

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

And it's stood me in good stead. Though the Halfords one does seem to combine the chain whip with the pedal spanner, which might save space, but means your hands will get very dirty.

[Smartboy]

Odd! Sounds like the freehub mechanism is borked rather than a cassette problem?

Regardless, you should still be able to remove the cassette in the usual way with a chain whip, cassette lock-ring tool and a big spanner. With the cassette off, you should be able to identify what has gone wrong.

If you can still spin the free hub body in both directions by hand, that's the problem part to replace. Depending on your hub make/design, you might be better off with a new wheel rather than a free hub re-build?

[Smartboy]

Looks like Kell beat me to it!
Sorry for the duplication of bits of my response!

[S6PNJ]

Planet X also have a tool kit that may be a good investment - http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/TOJWTK/jobswor... only £34.99 as well.

[AWG]

Thanks you lot, much appreciated.

So it can be removed then, thats great news! Its on an iDrive Comp nine speed cassette so nothing expensive. I have no cycling tools of my own so may need to take it down the local cycle shop.

[Seight_Returns]

As above - it sounds very much like either the splines or pawls in the freehub have failed. Unless it's an expensive wheel that's worth having rebuilt onto a new freehub - a new factory built wheel and the tools to remove the cassette and refit onto the new wheel would be the most cost effective fix.

One of these cheap £30ish bicycle toolkits is one of the best things I ever bought - it's paid for itself many, many times over.

There are numerous jobs that you'll have to do sooner or later if you use your bike regularly, that you can easily do with the right tool - but would be virtually impossible without and you'd end up paying the bike shop £20/30 for. Removing/Refitting Cassettes, Removing Crank and Chainsets, Changing Bottom Bracket Cartridges, Cutting new chains to length, adjusting wheel bearings, replacing broken spokes ......

[anonymous-user]

handy tip #296: keep a thick zip tie in your jersey pocket/saddlebag, if this ever happens miles from home you can use it to tie the cassette to a few spokes and get you home...

[yellowjack]

pablo said:

handy tip #296: keep a thick zip tie in your jersey pocket/saddlebag, if this ever happens miles from home you can use it to tie the cassette to a few spokes and get you home...

If you ever take this advice, don't forget you will effectively be riding a fixed gear - be very careful, especially when clipped in

[AWG]

Saw one on ebay for £30, think i'll bite the bullet as I have other wheels to use if you think the cassette is fine. I can just remove (hopefully) and put on another rear wheel as I don't have another wheel that has a nine speed cassette already on it!

I just hiope the bottom bracket does go as the i-drive brackets look like a bit of a labrynth!

Thanks for all your input.
Andy