How to remove a cassette from a gravity games bike

most multi-speed bikes these days use Cassette rear hubs. The cassette is held in place on the hub via a lock ring that has some small teeth on the inside. Since there are many different brands on the market, you have to have the right cassette lock ring tool for your cassette. They cost about $10-15 each. You will also need a tool called a chain whip ($15-20) to hold the cassette in place, to prevent it from "free-wheeling" while you engage the lock ring tool to unscrew the lock ring. Once the lock ring is removed, the cassette will slide right off of the free hub body. Note that the free hub body has splines on it and the cassette can only be installed when all the inner teeth on the cassette gears line up with the splines on the free hub body. The first couple of cogs are usually loose, take care to note the order in which they are removed and their respective spaces so that they can be reinstalled in the proper order or else you bike won't shift correctly. Your LBS (local bike shop) will have all of these tools and most charge $5-15 in labor to remove and reinstall a cassette, some will do it for free if you buy the parts from them.

Proper tools are a necessity. A cassette lockring tool and chain-whip (examples: http://www.roadragecycling.com/2012/10/bike-tools-top-11-you-need-most.html about half way down the page)

The proper lock ring for a Shimano 9 cassette is a Park Tool FR-5. There are other generic tools as well; but the FR-5 is the most common.

Many companies make chain whips too. My favorite (and the one in the picture) is the Wheels Manufacturing tool. It is also one of the most affordable.

For what it's worth: if there is a bike shop near you - many will remove a cassette for a nominal fee. Often $5-10.

To remove any rear freewheel or cassette you will need to purchase a Park Tool. Park Tool is the best brand when it comes to bike repair. Google Park Tool and you can look through their products. You will need a cassette/freewheel remover. There are dozens of different companies that make hubs and cassettes (gear sprocket). Take a look at yours and see what company made it. You can than find out which tool with properly fit your cassette. These tools are made to fit in a wrench making hand removal easy. Some brands will require a chain whip. The only way you will know which too you need is by find the company name on the cassette/hub. Without this tool removal is virtually impossible. If you need help narrowing down which cassette remover you need you can always let me know the company name and I will let you know the proper cassette tool to purchase.

NO. It's prohibitively expensive to swap individual cogs on cassettes and the ends are fixed anyway.

Look at this picture http://shimano105.com/2779/shimano-cassette-9-speed/

The largest 3 cogs are riveted together as are the next 2 cogs.

Cassettes can have up to 34-tooth low gears. 12x27 is a common size. Mountain bike sizing is next and it involves someothing more like 11x32 or 34.

Your rear derailleur, if it's a short-cage, may not be able to handle a much larger cog. Do some online research for the largest cog it can accomodate.

You don't say what size chainrings (or how many) you have. Compact cranksets run 50x34 or 36 up front, which makes a huge difference if you're coming from a 52x42 or 52x39 setup. I converted one of my bikes to compact and it's my favorite hilly-ride bike now.

Consult a bike shop because some special tools and skills are required. And web search for 'how to' just about anything.

http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help

Replacing the cassette involves specialized tools. Your best bet is to visit a bike shop (a *shop* is where the employees ride and know bikes, rather than a *store* that just sells) and talk with them. They'll show you what you need, and describe the procedure if you want to spend the money on the tools.

The only way to adjust the "tension" of the chain is to remove links. You will need a chain breaker tool. Shift the bike into the biggest chain ring and the biggest cog of the cassette, then break the chain, leaving the pin partially in the link but far enough out that the chain separates. Now, pull the chain together so that the rear derailleur's arm is as horizontal as possible and aiming toward the crank. Break the appropriate link to connect the chain so the derailleur stays in that position and reattach the chain using the pin you left partially engaged.

i hope this helps
-matthew

This information provided by Park Tool's help page is all the info you need. It includes pictures and the necessary tools involved.

Hope it helps,
matt

Make sure your rear derailleur is lined up with one of the rings of teeth on your rear gears( cassette ). Also make sure Your chain is riding correctly on one of the front gears on your crank. If you are still unable to back pedal make sure that one of the cogs (gears) in the rear derailleur arm isn't seized. They must both be able to rotate and the chain should pass through them in a backward S pattern. If you still can't back pedal remove the back wheel or move the chain off the cassette to see if the cassette will freewheel. It has to move freely in a counterclockwise direction in order for you to backpedal. Moving in a clockwise direction engages pawls inside the cassette which lock it into a drive situation which propels the bike. If the cassette will not freewheel in a counterclockwise direction you will need to take the rear wheel to a good bicycle shop to have the cassette replaced. It requires a special tool to remove it. Hope this helps.

it sounds like the barrings your going to have to bring it to a shop or buy a new wheel

You wil need a couple of special tools, or be fairly creative with the tools you have.

1. remove the dustcovers in the crank arms at the crank axle
2. loosen the crank retaining nut/bolt.
3. thread in a chank puller and pull the crank arms.
4. remove the lock ring on the adjustable side of the crank axle (Requires lock ring wrench)
5. remove adjustable bearing cup.
6. remove axle and bearings
7. replace or repair as needed.

Once you have it opened up ou can determine if you need new bearings or crank axle.
to assemble, reverse above procedure, insuring bearing play is minimalized.

Hope this helps.
Ed