Casette

[Mbot]

 

I have a problem. I heard a funny noise at the rear while riding. Upon closer inspection I found that each of the chainrings are loose. Not alot like spinning in a circle, but each has a tiny bit of movement when turn them with my hands. I also suspect this has something to do with my gears slipping? Any advice on what could be the problem and what I need to replace?

 

[leet22]

sounds like the freewheel hub might of gone. I stand to be corrected

[Mbot]

Do I have to replace the whole hub?

[deanbean]

I had the same problem, put in a new cassette and all was sorted, don't wait too long or you may bugger up your freehub body.

 

 

[Mbot]

Thanks, will do that. Just need bank managers approval.

[parabola]

Have you checked that the lockring is tight?

[Johan Bornman]

Have you checked that the lockring is tight?

 

That brought a smile to my face. Thanks.

[Tankman]

you might be missing a spacer in between two chainrings?

 

have you removed or fitted the cassette lately?

[Johan Bornman]

Individual sprockets fit loosely onto the freehub body. Unidirectional and single-positional splines prevent them fitting on any other way but the right way. This ensures that all the individual sprockets are oriented vis a vie each other in the right position.

 

The fit is very loose so that you can just pull the cassette off by hand. The lockring (in your picture, the collar on the far right of the sprockets that hold them in place, puts some pressure on the sprockets so that they sit tightly against each other and don't rattle. The lockring doesn't prevent the sprockets from rotating a little bit on the loose splines. In fact, it allows (no matter how tight you make it), the sprockets to move forward from chain tension, until they connect with the spline.

 

If the lockring is too loose they'll freely rattle around. Generally it won't affect gear changes unless it is really, really loose.

 

The lockring requires a special tool to tighten and is the first investment you should make in tools - perhaps second, if you want to count a pocket multi-tool.

 

A lockring tool is used to remove and replace a cassette but it requires a chainwhip to help it take the cassette off.

 

Buy yourself a pair of these tools and let the shopowner show you the correct way of using it.

 

 

[Johan Bornman]

you might be missing a spacer in between two chainrings?
have you removed or fitted the cassette lately?

 

C'mon, dont confuse the oke. The photo clearly shows that there is no spacer missing.

[Johan Bornman]

This story reminds me of one of my professional cyclist customers. I built a Powertap wheel for him and upon collection, he brought me another wheel to quickly true up. Whilst I was doing that, he fitted a cassette and tyre to is new Powertap wheel.

 

Monday after a big race, he came back and said his cassette was loose. I checked. It rattled like hell and would certainly have made a huge noise during the race. I asked him about this and he said "yes, it did make a noise, but I switch off to things like that when I race."

 

This impressed me. I would have focussed on the loose cassette throughout the race and worried that it will malfunction. A professional switches off and focuses on the task on hand.

 

Imagine if we could all work like that...don't allow domestic issues to affect our thoughts while we work.

 

 

[carelgrundlingh]

"I have a problem. I heard a funny noise at the rear while riding."

Same thing happened to me... Thing is, everybody behind me also heard it... I was so embarressed!

 

[Mbot]

Ok, the problem was the lockring... BUT thats now solved and theres no more funny noises. Stay tuned for the next problem that will certainly come up in a few days