Removing & Installing The Cassette

A thoroughly cleaned cassette is a thing of beauty

Today I accomplished another first. I removed and re-installed the rear cassette. I had just completed 2,000 Km on the Red Roadie and thought it was reason enough to remove the cassette and give it a thorough cleaning. I had thought of removing the chain also but realised that this chain is not removable (unless you want to break a link and put a quick link in its place). So off I went with the cassette. 

I used my newly acquired lockring removal tool and the chain whip. I had had to wait for these for months to arrive. Funny though it may sound, there is no Indian manufacturer for such simple bicycle tools. While the lockring removal tool is from Taiwan, I have no clue where the chain ring originated.

I just followed the steps shown in the various youtube videos and taking it off was not such a pain. I cleaned it with kerosene, detergent and finally a clean piece of rag. The cassette looked shiny bright and new. This was the first time it got removed from the bike. 

While removing I had zip tied the sprockets so that I have no problem reinstalling them. The first six sprockets were fused together. Then there was a thin hard rubber spacer followed by three more sprockets. 

While reinstalling, I placed them back in the correct order one by one. Finally I put some grease inside and then installed the locknut. This, I realised was a little tricky. It did not sit properly and after tightening it when I tried to give it a deep tight the lock ring would just rotate and come loose. I took off the things and once again followed the steps one by one. Finally I placed the lock nut very carefully and hand-tightened it at first. This time things fell in place and I gave it a good tight. The recommended torque is 40 Nm. But I do not have a torque wrench. So just went by instinct. 

I cleaned the chain thoroughly. I am yet to ride the bike. Will report after the first ride. Perhaps tomorrow.

The cassette removed and the tools for removal

A Major Goof Up

It's late night. Almost 12 mid night. I came back from Mukulda's place and checked what was bugging my mind since the afternoon. The wheel was moving backward when I pedalled backward. This was odd. I took the wheel off. Reinstalled. Nothing changed. Tried two three times. No result. I checked the cassette it was fixed. It was not moving freely in one direction, as it is supposed to. It was fixed in both the directions. No wonder the chain was making the wheel move in both the directions. It had become a fixie actually.

I took off the cassette once again with all the tools engaged properly. Removed the first plastic disc. I think they call it the dork dish. Professionals remove it the first thing after getting their new bike. I did not and wanted to reinstall it. I have a feeling something was wrong there. Probably the disc was somehow stuck somewhere. I don't know. Reinstalled the cassette without the plastic disc. I discovered some fine metal shavings under the locknut. I think the cassette's insides got shaved a bit when I first tried to instal it. I put some grease on the thread of the locknut and placed the nut very carefully and it sat correctly after several failed attempts. It is not an easy thing to do. Newbies must be careful of this. None of the youtube videos forewarn the newbies about this.  

Now the bike is moving as it should. It's not a fixie any more. If I back pedal only the chain moves. Not the wheel. 

I had checked the chain in the afternoon. It is close to being .75 loose. I will go and collect a new chain and change it once it reaches 1. Perhaps in another 500 kms or so. But no harm keeping the chain in stock. Components are difficult to source in Calcutta.

December 29, 2020

Last night I went out for the first ride after the clean up. It was a super smooth ride of 35 kms. I am so happy that I cleaned up so thoroughly. Initially I was a little tentative. After all this was the first time I did it and if anything was fitted wrongly it could end in a disaster. But nothing happened and the bike rolled smooth as silk. I had forgotten to wipe the excess lube off the chain. That cannot be helped now. I am more than certain that if I could give the chain a thorough clean up, the ride would be even smoother. 

I also bought a new 9-speed chain and a pair of gloves from Rito last night. Will write about them separately.

My next project will be to clean the chain and cassette of the LHT. Its chain has a quick link. I have ordered for a repair stand which might come next month. Will do it then, I guess.