How to Replace a Bike's Cassette

Every once in a while you will need to remove the cassette to clean it, service the free-hub body, or replace the cassette with a new one. These directions apply to standard cassettes found on most bikes today.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Assemble the proper tools. You'll need an adjustable wrench, a chain whip and a cassette lockring tool.

2. Remove the rear wheel.

3. 

   Remove the skewer.

4. Insert the lockring tool into the cassette lockring.

5. 

   Put the skewer back in and tighten it down to hold the lockring tool in place.

6. Place the adjustable wrench on the end of the lockring tool and orient it so that you can push down in a counterclockwise direction.

7. 

   Wrap the chainwhip around the middle cog on the cassette and orient it so that you can work against the wrench and hold the cassette in place.

8. 

   Holding the cassette in place with the chain whip, push down on the wrench until you feel the lockring begin to loosen.

9. Remove the skewer as soon as you loosen the lockring (sometimes this takes a bit of force). Then unscrew the lockring the rest of the way.

10. 

    Pull the cassette straight off the freehub body.

11. Clean off the cassette body and then lightly grease it.

12. Place the new cassette on the freehub body. You will need to orient it so that the grooves on the cassette match up with those on the freehub body.

13. Grease the threads on the lockring and thread it into the freehub body.

14. Put the skewer back in and tighten it down to hold the lockring tool in place.

15. 

    Tighten down the lockring. You want it quite snug, but don't over-tighten it.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have an older bike, you may have an different style of cassette, or a freewheel.
• Always replace the chain when you put on a new cassette.

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[bude5560]

on 6/13/2007 do you turn the locking tool clockwise or counter clockwise