The back wheel has a set of gear rings on it.Each ring is a gear on your bike, and the chain connects to the pedals and turns the cassette to power the bike.The teeth on the gears start to wear down as time goes on, making the connection to the chain weaker and costing you power.Slipping chains can prevent you from pedaling at all until the problem is fixed.
Step 1: Take the wheel out of the bike.
The easiest way to do this is to remove the wheel from the bike, undoing the skewer or nuts, and releasing the brake.Set the bike aside while the wheel is taken off.It's more likely that the chain is around the cassette.Shift the front gear into the smallest ring if you can't remove it.Push to put slack in the chain and find the location of the two small wheels on the derailleur arm.
Step 2: If a cassette replacement is necessary, inspect the cassette for wear and damage.
The teeth will be rounded if they are worn.It's a good time to check for proper lubrication and wear on the bearings.The bearing cones need to be adjusted if the axle moves.If you want, a bike shop can do this for you.There are signs that you need a new cassette.Issues shifting (check that your derailleurs are properly adjusted before changing the cassette) and Visibly worn teeth (points are lower on some gears than others).The gears are cracked, broken, or warped.
Step 3: The skewer needs to be removed.
Remove the skewer from the center of the wheel by putting it on a flat surface with easy access to the cassette.The skewer and bolt on the other end can be easily screwed off by hand.
Step 4: The lockring removal tool should be placed in the center of the cassette.
Remove the lock ring with a tool.It has a ring on the end that locks it into the cassette.This will be the point where you need to remove the cassette.There are some older lock-rings that don't have skewers.They are supposed to be used to replace the bolts on your skewer.Attach the lockring removal tool to your old skewer by removing the normal ends.
Step 5: The chain whip should be wrapped around the largest sprocket.
You can get the chain with the largest sprocket.The chain whip is used to keep the cassette from turning.It is a long handle with a bike chain at the end that allows it to lock the cassette in place.Go counter-clockwise and wrap as much of the chain as you can.The lockring needs to be turned counter-clockwise in order to loosen the bolt later.You can use a length of chain instead.
Step 6: Attach the large wrench to your lockring removal tool.
The chain whip should be held in place with a wrench.It might be easier with two people.You can get a lot of power from the lockring tool if you tighten the wrench.Make sure the tool is locked in the cassette.The cassette has a lock nut on it.
Step 7: Hold the chain whip in place and use the wrench to release the lock-ring.
The regular thread of this nut needs to be counterclockwise.It may make a loud grinding noise, which sounds like popcorn, as it is removed.The locking teeth are to blame.If never done before, this takes a fair amount of force and you don't want to break anything.The lock ring is the small piece of silver that keeps the cassette from moving.You definitely do not want to lose the lock ring.
Step 8: Remove the lock ring and slide the cassette off.
A large set of sprockets riveted together is usually what it consists of.As a guide for adding your new cassette, keep everything in the same order you took it out.There is a plastic chain guard between the cassette and the spokes of the wheel.Some teeth may be pinned together.To lightly pry a few gears off, you may need to use a thin object.
Step 9: The hub of the bike needs to be cleaned with an old rag.
The area you rarely get to when cleaning is this one.An old rag, rubbing alcohol, dish soap, and warm water can be used.
Step 10: The cassette can be replaced with the same gear ratio.
The number of gears should be counted first.Take the number of teeth on the smallest gear and the largest gear.You can get your ratio by putting these numbers together.An 11-32 should be replaced with another.The tooth counts are stamped on the sprockets.A name or part number would be useful.You can bring your cassette to the bike shop to get a similar cassette.
Step 11: The cassette should be replaced with a different ratio.
cassettes can be used for a certain number of gears.The gear can be mixed with other gear.Older sprockets can be adjusted.If you want to get sprockets, buy them separately or as a whole unit.The pins that hold the cassettes together can be removed to make assembly easier.You can stack the cassette with the gear ratios you want.It's important to keep in mind that some sprocket tooth counts are less common than others.Unless you're experienced, it's best not to try.Compatibility between cassettes and gears can vary.The new SRAM XD driver series isn't compatible with older models of cassettes.Campagnolo freehub bodies are compatible with cassettes.If you're unsure about which one to use, talk to your local bike shop.Changing gear ratios could require a longer or shorter chain.The cassette should have the same number of gears.A 10-speed cassette is better than a 9- or 11- speed cassette.
Step 12: You should put the cassette back on the hub of the bike after you bought it.
You should put the new cassette on the old one.There are small teeth on the hub that the cassette slides into.One of them is larger than the others.One of the openings on the cassette tells you how to line the new cassette up with the hub.The lock ring should be slid on to keep things from moving.You might need to add some gears at a time.When you buy the cassette, make sure you note any plastic rings in between them.These are the things.
Step 13: The cassette's locking nut must be tightened.
To tighten the lockring tool, use a wrench.The threads are small and won't take much force to tighten.The locking teeth on the cassette stop it from coming off as it is removed and replaced.Use the wrench to tighten the bolt so it doesn't move, then hand tighten it as much as possible.It will sound like popcorn if you hear a grinding sound while you do this.When you only hear 1 or 2 pops, the bolt is tight.There should be no movement in the gears or the sprockets.
Step 14: Put the wheel back on the bike after refitting the skewer.
Put the wheel on the bike and change the chain once the cassette is back on.You are ready to ride again.The bike chain should be put back near the gear the bike is in so that it doesn't clank violently when you start pedaling.If confused, shift the bike all the way to one side of the gears and put the chain on the furthest two rings.
Step 15: Whenever you change your cassette, replace your chain.
The stress on the rear cassette is caused by chains wear down.Proper chain replacement is the best way to prevent cassettes from being replaced too often.You should replace the chain if you put a new cassette on, even if it is the same as the old one.