Forum: bicycles.stackexchange.com
Tags: <wheels><repair><cassette>
Title: How can I remove a stuck rear cassette?
Question: I've been trying in vain to remove a rear cassette that I myself installed about a year ago.  I may have over-tightened the lock ring and now I can't remove it no matter what position I hold the wheel-chain whip-wrench combination.  Any advice on what to do to get this cassette off (short of going to my LBS)?  The wheel is relatively new and the cassette is very new, and the reason I want to remove the cassette is to replace a broken spoke.

Answers:
sents: text: Have you tried holding your tool like this:
text: I have just discovered it (instead of the classical "one tool per hand" technique) and it helped a lot.
answer_details: author: bicycles.stackexchange.com/users/5526/tisek
score: 8
sents: text: I used a domestic hairdryer for 2/3 minutes , applied the extension and it finally gave.
text: Would also advise against using a blowtorch as may damage components.
answer_details: author: bicycles.stackexchange.com/users/52531/soeleanni
score: 5
sents: text: Did you yourself grease the threads before installing?
text: This is especially important when the lock ring is aluminum.
text: I'll assume your free hub body is either steel or titanium and there's no grease.
text: If force alone won't move it, it's time to try leverage or impact or both.
text: In the shop they'll ask you the above question before putting the wheel on the ground with the right (or cassette holding) chain whip in a position where it cannot move (under a table or something solid and heavy).
text: The lock ring tool or wrench can have a longer lever attached to it and push straight down.
text: If that doesn't work, get a plastic hammer and try impact.
text: Good luck, and always grease your threads..
answer_details: author: bicycles.stackexchange.com/users/8619/fergie348
score: 4
sents: text: Try engaging the chain whip on different cogs of the cassette.
text: Overlap the chain on the chain whip so that it binds itself in place if necessary.
answer_details: author: bicycles.stackexchange.com/users/2598/joelmdev
score: 3
sents: text: I'm an engineer and encountered many stuck bolts, nuts and threads in my time.
text: I just tried to remove my rear shimaneo cassette off a 3 year old bike.
text: I used the correct tools and really put all my weight and force into it, but it wouldn't budge.
text: So i decided to apply a little heat from a blow torch.
text: Being careful not to overheat the whole wheel hub, i gently heated it up
text: and then i tried the sprocket socket, and it turned without even needing a spanner.
text: I should have tried that before i applied all my weight and what might have happened, if it suddenly gave way.
text: Even though I've done this before, i was amazed what a difference it made, much safer than jumping up and down on a 5ft scaffold tube!
answer_details: author: bicycles.stackexchange.com/users/43403/johnny
score: 2
sents: text: Wow...
text: I pretty much gave it everything that I could find in my garage tonight, but like most...
text: I have no vice.
text: I even tried a pry-bar between the whip and the wrench, but the whip (Park Tool) is not real rigid and it started to bend.
text: Before I shamefully gave up to go into the LBS, as a last resort, I clamped the chain whip to my workbench table thinking that maybe I can get enough clamping force to simulate a vice before it slips.
text: Voila.
text: I couldn't believe how easy it was by comparison.
text: While I still needed a breaker bar, this was the most effective thing to do.
answer_details: author: bicycles.stackexchange.com/users/45150/sprinter in marathon
score: 2
sents: text: You should secure the cassette lockring removal tool with the quick release skewer or axle bolt, just enough to hold it in place (although some removal tools don't have a hole in the middle for you to do this).
text: This means you can use more force without fear of the tool slipping.
text: Then use a long handled wrench (spanner) and chain whip.
text: A box-end wrench (ring spanner) will give you more purchase.
text: Otherwise use a vice in place of the wrench (spanner) and just turn the chain whip counterclockwise when looking from the side of the wheel not fixed in the vice.
text: When using the wrench and chain whip, if you can't push the two tools toward each other to remove the cassette, you can inflate the tire fully, and go for the most mechanical advantage by having the spanner and whip handles forming a v with angles of about 120-150 degrees.
text: Then push down on both handles.
text: This does run some risk of damaging your wheel though, so only try this as a last resort.
text: You can also try putting the chain whip on the larger sprockets for more purchase.
answer_details: author: bicycles.stackexchange.com/users/2148/Jason S
score: 1

Summary of the answers:
If force alone won't move a stuck rear cassette, it's time to try leverage or impact or both. You should secure the cassette lockring removal tool with the quick release skewer or axle bolt, just enough to hold it in place (although some removal tools don't have a hole in the middle for you to do this). Otherwise use a vice in place of the wrench (spanner) and just turn the chain whip counterclockwise when looking from the side of the wheel not fixed in the vice. You can also try putting the chain whip on the larger sprockets for more purchase. Alternative solutions include using a domestic hairdryer for 2/3 minutes, followed by force.  Finally, using a blowtorch is not recommended.
A hairdryer can loosen the cassette, but avoid anything too hot. Greasing the threads can make subsequent removal easier. more leverage using the larger cog or a longer bar can help.