Cassette Removal

[alif18]

I've just bought a 1992 Trek 990 which has a bit of a mish mash of gear on it. The rims are Araya and not the original Matrix. The hubs are exage with a 6 speed cassette which I want to remove for cleaning and possibly replace with a 7 speed which is what I think the bike was originally spec'd with. The lock ring appears to have 9 splines and is approx 34mm diameter. I've not seen one this size before and can't seem to find a removal tool that size anywhere. Before giving up and taking it to the local shop has anyone any advice on where I can get one and any general advice on this. Cheers, Ali.

 

[oldave]

Sorry if this is a bit obvious....but are you sure it's a cassette and not a freewheel? Six speeds usually are the latter.

PS More info here:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/freewheels.html

 

[serottabob]

save yourself time swing into bike shop im sure they will remove it for u, take some jam doenuts with u...

 

[alif18]

Thanks for the comments. I suspect I may end up taking it to the shop but I'm not giving up just yet. Reading the Sheldonbrown stuff does seem to indicate it could be a Uniglide cassette which has 9 splines. It looks very much like that and the 6 speed cassette cluster is not as wide as the freehub so it could be the wrong cluster. I'll google Uniglide cassette removal tool and see if that brings anything up. Cheers

 

[walshy69]

No idea if this is good advice or bad advice i'm offering. But when I removed my 7 speed, I used a good old hammer and a flat blunt screwdriver to remove the cassete lockring and to put it back on again.

 

[jax13]

No idea if this is good advice or bad advice i'm offering. But when I removed my 7 speed, I used a good old hammer and a flat blunt screwdriver to remove the cassete lockring and to put it back on again.

it aint pretty but it does work. i had to do it on a non qr axle wheel as my removal tool has a post that slots down the qr channel in the axle.

 

[walshy69]

Glad someone else has also done it, I'll now freely admit to using a plumbers wrench instead of a chain whip too

 

[jax13]

Glad someone else has also done it, I'll now freely admit to using a plumbers wrench instead of a chain whip too

and 24" stilsons instead of headset spanners?

as i said, it aint pretty!

 

[stew-b]

if its a 6 speed freewheel which it almost certainly is then you cant fit a 7 speed cassette,you need a new hub to do that..you can pick up 7 speed freewheels though so that may be an option..
freewheels and cassettes are completely different setups.

 

[rc200ti]

and 24" stilsons instead of headset spanners?