47
votes
Do I really have to replace the cassette when I replace the chain, or is this a scam?
At our shop, we suggest a new cassette every 2 times you replace your chain, IF you stay on top of your maintenance schedule. With 99% of customers this would mean a new cassette every 1-2 years ...
- 1,175
34
votes
Accepted
Was I just sold a used cassette?
In all likelihood, the cassette is new. The cassette is manufactured this way. The difference in teeth shape and depth is to assist the chain take-up when you change gears.
Look for wear marks on the ...
- 47.8k
28
votes
Why do freehub and cassette have only one position that matches?
Early cassettes (Suntour Accushift and Shimano Uniglide being some commonly encountered examples) weren't like this. The splines were all the same and there was no hunting for the little spline or big ...
- 80.1k
26
votes
Do I really have to replace the cassette when I replace the chain, or is this a scam?
No, it shouldn't be necessary to replace a cassette after a month's use. However, unless you've had bad service from this shop in the past, I'd give them the benefit of the doubt and assume that it ...
- 16.9k
25
votes
Accepted
What explains 9 speed cassettes price differences?
In most cases with bicycle parts, more expensive means lighter. There can be exceptions, especially when you get to the super low end parts where cheaper can also mean cheaper construction.
Since you ...
- 404
20
votes
What would happen if I don’t replace worn drivetrain components?
In my experience - breakage is not directly correlated to wear. I've had bikes with unknown mileage on them, and have chosen to ride the transmission into the ground.
Generally the performance slowly ...
- 120k
19
votes
Accepted
Will a 7-speed chain work on a 2x10 speed drivetrain?
will this new 7-speed chain work on a 10-speed cassette?
No.
That's based on my experience with a nine-speed chain shipped by mistake on a 10-speed drive train. That didn't work well - shifting was ...
- 10.4k
18
votes
Accepted
Can I convert a 1x9 speed bicycle to single speed by putting 9 identical cogs into cassette?
Since 1982 or so just about all rear derailleurs are built with a slant parallelogram design so that it glides in a diagonal line as it shifts up and down. This is supposed to keep the jockey wheel a ...
17
votes
Accepted
What are the ridges seen on sprockets and chainrings for?
They are there to help facilitate shifting. Basically, the ramps you see help when going from a smaller to larger sprocket by catching the side plates of the chain to help the chain be pulled up onto ...
- 46k
17
votes
Get a tougher gear on Shimano GRX, 11-34T, 2x11
You cannot get a higher gear ratio by replacing the cassette. The 11 tooth sprocket is the smallest you can get on a compatible cassette. (Systems with 10 tooth sprockets exist but use a different ...
- 75.3k
16
votes
Accepted
Is there any way to remove a rear cassette WITHOUT a cassette wrench?
Use the correct tool. There really is no other good answer.
Bodges that could get the old one off, maybe
a hammer and cold chisel - likely to upset the threads on the freehub.
a grinder and cutoff ...
- 120k
15
votes
Accepted
What would happen if I don’t replace worn drivetrain components?
Despite the "hell will freeze over" warnings (it doesn't) it is worth considering why you ride a bike, and why you ride an 11- or 12-speed bike when a 9 speed will do the job just fine ...
- 47.8k
15
votes
Accepted
Should the chain diverge that much?
Yes that's completely normal.
You have one chainring and it has a fixed position. You have 11 gears on the rear, and only one of those could have "perfect chainline" All the rest are ...
- 120k
15
votes
Accepted
Damaged spokes behind the cassette
This kind of damage occurs when the chain gets stuck between the cassette and the spokes. It happened while riding, most likely, as indicated by the fact that the spokes are bent in the pull direction ...
- 1,184
14
votes
Can I just fit a cassette with more gears with the same derailleur?
If you want to change your cassette to something with more gears, then you will need to replace the rear shifter and possibly the rear derailleur. A cheaper option would be to get a wider range ...
- 21.6k
14
votes
If I change my cassette to a different range do I need to change my chain?
Theoretically, you could shorten your chain to accommodate the smaller (largest gear) cassette. However, I never install a new cassette unless I install a new chain as well. Cassettes and chains ...
- 9,928
14
votes
Skewer removal without quick release
You have the wrong tool. Your cassette lockring removal tool has a long pin emerging from its centre, which would fit inside the axle of a QR compatible wheel, to keep the tool centred.
What you have ...
- 12.7k
14
votes
Why do people use bigger cassettes for lower gearing when they could instead use smaller chainrings?
Gear ratio range.
If you decrease the chainring sizes you decrease the highest ratios available. It's not possible to make the gap between the chainrings much bigger and get decent front shifting so ...
- 75.3k
14
votes
Is there any way to remove a rear cassette WITHOUT a cassette wrench?
You really will struggle to complete this task without the proper tools, I can't actually imagine how you would do it successfully. Criggie's answer helpfully details some good ways to go about ...
- 12.7k
14
votes
Can I convert a 1x9 speed bicycle to single speed by putting 9 identical cogs into cassette?
I would say : no way.
The rear derailleur is not supposed to handle cogs with the same dimension. The cogs should be smaller towards the outer part of the cassette, to correspond to the movement of ...
- 734
14
votes
Accepted
Cassette fell off while whacking the wheel on a rock — is this normal?
I think that perhaps what has happened is you have a more modern wheel having a thru axle hub. Some manufacturers design the rear hub to accept the 4 major freehub body types as well as accepting ...
- 9,522
13
votes
Why do people use bigger cassettes for lower gearing when they could instead use smaller chainrings?
There is a limit to the amount of tension a given chain should be put under. Smaller chainrings increase that force - the pedal arm and chainring form a lever, and the smaller the chainring (and ...
- 584
13
votes
Accepted
Yes/no replace chainrings+cassette after chain failure?
Yes. The cassette teeth are clearly worn, and the large chainring teeth have worn into characteristic shark fin shape. If you use new chain with these, it will skip. The small chainring looks still ...
- 21.6k
13
votes
Accepted
I failed to replace my chain at the proper interval. Will I have to replace my whole drivetrain?
Yes - after that mileage you will need both a new chain and new cassette.
A new chain on the old cassette will not mesh right, and accelerate wear on the new chain.
Depending how much chain elongation ...
- 120k
13
votes
Trek procaliber eating cassettes
The highest/hardest gear is 10T which is not a lot of teeth-chain contact. If you're riding home with a very dirty bike that could grind into the 4~5 teeth that are meshed with your chain. If so, ...
- 120k
12
votes
Accepted
Why do people use bigger cassettes for lower gearing when they could instead use smaller chainrings?
You mostly answered your own question: the racing market drives the industry, sometimes to the detriment of the availability of real-world gearing.
A major compounding factor is that there are a lot ...
- 80.1k
12
votes
Accepted
How does lubricating your chain help protect your cassette and chainrings from wearing too?
In the ideal case, the chain will not actually be rubbing significantly against the chainrings under load. As the chain wears, the spacing between the chain links becomes different from the tooth ...
- 1,515
12
votes
how can you index a 9 speed 11-46 tooth cassette if the gears arent equally apart
It sounds like you're talking about the tooth difference, and not the horizontal spacing between cogs. Most cassettes are "uneven" in this sense. It does not affect indexed shifting, so ...
- 53.2k
11
votes
New roadbike. Poor cassette quality control?
There does not appear to be anything wrong with the cassette. Shimano helpfully put some nice clear pictures of individual sprockets on the product page for the CS-58000 cassette.
https://bike....
- 75.3k
11
votes
Accepted
Rusty chain and back cassette – Replace or repair?
As long as the crank arms, chain and freewheel turn freely and all as one. Without clunk's, slipping or sticking at any point there should be no need to replace any of it. The surface rust will not ...
- 290
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