Tightening cassette - how much pressure?
Tightening cassette - how much pressure?
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Discussion

TheFungle

Original Poster:

4,253 posts

236 months

Thursday 20th June 2013
quotequote all
Grrrr.

Bought my new cassette today and impressed myself with my homemade chain whip, so far so good, that is until I go to tighten the lock ring and just I get to the 'apply pressure' stage SNAP! On inspection half of the plastic thread on the freehub has come off, it looks like a new freehub is on order :-(

Now, I've attached cassettes before and I certainly don't think I applied excessive force, curious as to how you guys would describe the appropriate pressure to apply.

gazza285

11,167 posts

238 months

Thursday 20th June 2013
quotequote all
Non of my bikes have had any plastic threads on the freehub? What components do you have?

Benmac

1,697 posts

246 months

Thursday 20th June 2013
quotequote all
I can't remember what the value is but the torque requirement is usually stated on the lockring. As with so many things its surprisingly low. See if you can buy or borrow a torque wrench.

TheFungle

Original Poster:

4,253 posts

236 months

Thursday 20th June 2013
quotequote all
gazza285 said:
Non of my bikes have had any plastic threads on the freehub? What components do you have?
Shimano R500 hub with 105 cassette.

From instruction on the bike maint course I did, previous cassette fitting experience and internet 'wisdom' it would suggest that I did it right, obviously my now broken freehub would suggest otherwise!

The wheel is only 2 months old so I'll ask very nice in the LBS for it to be replaced under warranty, although I'm pretty sure I know what the answer will be!

deckster

9,631 posts

285 months

Thursday 20th June 2013
quotequote all
I don't understand why you needed a chainwhip to install a cassette. Surely the cassette slides onto the hub, apply lockring, turn to hand tight. Job done. The lockring is only there to stop the cassette falling off, it doesn't need to take any strain itself.

TheFungle

Original Poster:

4,253 posts

236 months

Thursday 20th June 2013
quotequote all
deckster said:
I don't understand why you needed a chainwhip to install a cassette. Surely the cassette slides onto the hub, apply lockring, turn to hand tight. Job done. The lockring is only there to stop the cassette falling off, it doesn't need to take any strain itself.
To take the old one off wink

Jimbo.

4,222 posts

219 months

Thursday 20th June 2013
quotequote all
TheFungle said:
Grrrr.

Bought my new cassette today and impressed myself with my homemade chain whip, so far so good, that is until I go to tighten the lock ring and just I get to the 'apply pressure' stage SNAP! On inspection half of the plastic thread on the freehub has come off, it looks like a new freehub is on order :-(

Now, I've attached cassettes before and I certainly don't think I applied excessive force, curious as to how you guys would describe the appropriate pressure to apply.
40Nm smile

jodypress

2,109 posts

304 months

Thursday 20th June 2013
quotequote all
If you were tightening the cassette than you shouldn't need a chain whip, as that's generally for removing the cassette.

On my Shimano locknut it says 40nm which is what I torque it up to. No problems in many years of changing cassettes.

TheFungle

Original Poster:

4,253 posts

236 months

Thursday 20th June 2013
quotequote all
jodypress said:
If you were tightening the cassette than you shouldn't need a chain whip, as that's generally for removing the cassette.

On my Shimano locknut it says 40nm which is what I torque it up to. No problems in many years of changing cassettes.
Chain whip was to take old one off smile

Yup, 40nm is the stated torque setting but not having access to a torque wrench it's very much a case of guessing and going by feel/experience/jedi intuition.

Jimbo.

4,222 posts

219 months

Thursday 20th June 2013
quotequote all
TheFungle said:
Chain whip was to take old one off smile

Yup, 40nm is the stated torque setting but not having access to a torque wrench it's very much a case of guessing and going by feel/experience/jedi intuition.
Proper job, proper tools. It's the only way, Jedi's intuition or not.

Fozziebear

1,840 posts

170 months

Thursday 20th June 2013
quotequote all
Mine said 40nm, my torque wrench starts at 60nm and it was fine. You sure your not the hulk? wink

TheFungle

Original Poster:

4,253 posts

236 months

Thursday 20th June 2013
quotequote all
Fozziebear said:
Mine said 40nm, my torque wrench starts at 60nm and it was fine. You sure your not the hulk? wink
Only when I'm angry biggrin

nammynake

2,658 posts

203 months

Thursday 20th June 2013
quotequote all
Using a 10 inch wrench I put quite a lot of torque in, not quite full strength but definitely a good amount. If you are using a longer wrench then obviously don't go crazy!

Smartboy

232 posts

238 months

Thursday 20th June 2013
quotequote all
Fitted a new XT cassette yesterday and can confirm 40nm was recommended on the instruction leaflet.

Nothing plastic on my Hope Pro Evo 2 rear hub or on the cassette itself.

IroningMan

10,598 posts

276 months

Thursday 20th June 2013
quotequote all
Torque wrenches are useful. My 3/8" drive Halfords Pro one starts at 10Nm.

TheFungle

Original Poster:

4,253 posts

236 months

Friday 21st June 2013
quotequote all
Took it to the LBS today and they agreed it wasn't the failure they would expect, they will send it back to Shimano, hopefully it will be a warranty replacement but if not then leseon learnt, I shall have to be extra careful in future.

TheFungle

Original Poster:

4,253 posts

236 months

Monday 15th July 2013
quotequote all
A happy end to this little tale smile

LBS sent the part back to Shimano who agreed to replace it under warranty, the replacement freebub which I bought was refunded to me as a credit.

It certainly goes to show the worth of purchasing through an LBS, although I'm sure the outcome would be the same if I'd gone through Wiggle the experience would certainly not of been as painless.

mikee boy

967 posts

281 months

Monday 15th July 2013
quotequote all
TheFungle said:
A happy end to this little tale smile

LBS sent the part back to Shimano who agreed to replace it under warranty, the replacement freebub which I bought was refunded to me as a credit.

It certainly goes to show the worth of doing the job properly in the first place.
Fixed that for ya.

If you don't have a torque wrench do it up finger tight, then quarter to half a turn. If the cogs rattle, try a little more. If they still rattle, you may have left the 1mm spacer off by mistake and no amount of brute force will solve that. I think 10 speed cassettes on 9/10 speed freehubs need the spacer.

BMWBen

4,906 posts

231 months

Monday 15th July 2013
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+ some wheels have their own additional spacer which is easily discarded.