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  1. rhapsodyindrew on

    …just to confirm, you’re holding the chain whip stationary (thereby preventing the sprockets from rotating) while you use a wrench to turn the cassette lockring tool counterclockwise, right? The cassette can’t come off the freehub until the lockring is removed.

    Apologies if you already know all this; I’m just not sure how you bent a chain whip.

  2. Stronger chain whip needed, Park Tool SR-2.3 Is awesome, grips much better due to half crescent design. Expensive tho.

    Use a long 1/2″ breaker bar with a suitable cassette locking tool.

    I had a wheel where the only way to budge the cassette was to jam the end of the chain whip under a low window sill to keep cassette and wheel stuck in place and basically jumped on the breaker bar. That was touch n go 🤣

  3. Just to confirm, you’re holding with the whip and then using a nice big wrench, right? I sometimes will step on the wrench or grab a seat post for extra leverage. Eventually it should unbind.

  4. Sounds like it wasn’t greased properly when installed. I have had to use a a handlebar as a breaker bar in the past to get more leverage.

  5. If you have access to a low end impact wrench or driver with the appropriate socket adapter you could use that at its lowest setting with the right sized socket to get the lock ring off with just a quick blip. Even a towel should be enough to secure the cassette if you do that. Make sure to apply penetrating oil and wait a bit first.

  6. Unior makes a tool that holds the cassette with three prongs around it rather than using a chain. I hate chain whips. https://uniorusa.com/products/cassette-wrench

    If that’s not enough, you can get a socket style locking tool from someone like abbey (SRAM makes one too), and then use an impact wrench to break it loose.

  7. dry_zooplankton on

    I the shop I worked in we kept some sawed off aluminum downtubes to stick over wrench handles & increase leverage for situations like this. Worked great on many a overly-tightened cassette lock ring. Edit to add — the technically correct tool for this is called a breaker bar. If you don’t have something that would work for this, I’d recommend visiting your local shop, they should be able to get it off for you.

  8. You can use an old chain in a vice to hold the cassette while you swing on the lock ring… but also as pointed out, where is the lock ring?

  9. blumpkins_ahoy on

    Just to confirm, but this is a SRAM XD cassette and not an Ethirteen or other aftermarket cassette that uses set screws?

  10. Had the same problem. I broke the chain on my chain whip after I put a length of pipe over the handle for more leverage. Took it to LBS and they couldn’t budge it. Finally reached for the impact wrench and it was off in a second. Apparently 850Nm of torque gets it done

  11. Efficient-Fig2 on

    Honestly, just invest in a strong chain whip. The Park Tool ones are heavy duty enough to aid in getting off a stuck lockring like this.

    Have tried making DIY ones when I came into the issue myself and broke the chainwhip – no luck with this though.

    A longer wrench helps too.

    Remember to clean the threads and regrease before you put it back on to help prevent this from happening again.

  12. The last time I offered my method of holding the cassette steady I got downvoted to hell, but I’ll try again.

    You need a chain-type automotive oil filter wrench that takes a 1/2” drive, and the longest breaker bar you can find. Wrap that sucker round the largest sprocket it will fit round, drop the cassette removal tool on and again use the longest breaker bar you have to get maximum leverage. Helps to have a buddy to hold either the wheel or one of the breakers steady while you swing off the other one.

  13. In all stuck situations most effective is high impact, but be careful, very very careful.
    Just put whip around cassette and wrench on lockring, lift wheel with tools slightly and smack it on workbench.

    Also you can try to use impact driver, even without whip, if any car related repairs around.

    Hope it helps.

  14. The way that chain whip is bent doesn’t look like it’s from using too much force. It looks bent because you pulled it crooked… this is likely because you’re trying to work at a funky angle.

    Have you tried with the wheel upright, standing behind the wheel? I find I can get more leverage that way, and I’m also pushing/pulling straight up/down so there’s less chance of a tool slipping or bending sideways.

  15. Such-Variety9470 on

    Put the weel on the ground. Chain one end fix somewhere strongly, other end wrap on the cassette.
    than you can use the cassette remover with fulll force.

  16. Icy-Section-7421 on

    Wheel in front of you held against your lower leg. Chain whip held in left hand pointing straight out tot he left with chain wrapped around the top to right side of cassette wrapped around middle gear. Wrench on tool facing to the right. Press down on chain whip in left and wrench in right hand leaning all your weight into them while still leaning wheel against your shins. If still no go add 2-3 ft long pipe (breaker bar) to end of wrench.

  17. I had a similar issue, I took it to a shop and they said they put the socket in a vise and turned the wheel instead. I’m not sure about this method but it’s something to try

  18. Use a breaker bar to increase leverage. This is how I solved mine when I over torqued my lockring.

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