Comments on: How To Replace a Cassette Cluster

By: Alex

Alex — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 04:44:45 +0000

Thanks Jim. Sounds like you are referring to the freehub body, which usually has a thin spacer between the freehub and the hub. As far as I know, not many cassettes have a spacer between the cassette and freehub body.

By: Jim

Jim — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 01:00:25 +0000

Great tutorial! But you should also mention that some cassettes have a small thin metal washer that goes on the hub BEFORE the cassette is installed. This is the case with many Shimano Hyperglide cassettes, e.g., Ultergra CS-6600 model. Without the small thin metal washer in place prior to the largest cog, the cassette will wobble and the chain will make a lot of racket when shifting up and down the cassette. Thanks again for a great tutorial!

By: Alex

Alex — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 01:33:18 +0000

Hi Billy,

I haven’t heard of a cassette cluster that comes with bearings (unless you mean a freewheel). Hopefully someone who knows better will have an answer for you here

By: Billy Mills

Billy Mills — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 16:38:06 +0000

First of all, there is no bicycle shop within 50 miles of where I live. I have the kind of cassette cluster that you have to set the bearings inside of the cluster before you install it on the freehub. How many races are there inside the cluster? Do any bearings go in the race that the pawls or ratchets travel in? How many bearings go in each race? What size are the bearings? After I set the bearings, the cluster will not slide comfortably or completely on the freehub, and needless to say, it scatters the bearings all over the freehub and inside the cluster. My bike is a 24″ Roadmaster about 4 or 5 years old.

By: Artur Elias

Artur Elias — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 01:20:55 +0000

I’ve been visiting AND recommending these tutorials for a couple of months now. I don’t recall if I already expressed my gratitude here, so I’m doing it now. I know a lot of cycling pages and discussion boards/forums. I’ve read some of the classical literature on bicycle wrenching. Somehow, these videos have made a difference. They are simple, straightforward, and pleasant. They are a big help; no book or text I know is this clear.

Today I replaced a cassette for the first time. Bottom brackets and cranks are not a ‘mystery’ anymore too. Thank you very much! Please keep up the good work. All the best, A.

By: Alex

Alex — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 21:51:00 +0000

The spacer usually clips onto the wheel spokes and doesn’t act as a spacer. You can do without it fine, just make sure the limit screws on your rear derailleur are set up properly so your chain doesn’t shift into the wheel.

By: Kevin Barrett

Kevin Barrett — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 12:17:01 +0000

Alex loving your easy to follow videos and invaluable advice, but I need to change my cassette and chain on my 8 speed shimano set up. Shimano cassette and SRAM compatible chain seem to be the way to go, but my existing set up uses a plastic disc, I guess to prevent ‘chain suck’ or the chain getting caught up behind the sprockets.

I intend to remove this disc and use without it. Would i then need some kind of spacer there instead to take the space up or use the spacer already talked about in the threads above behind the first sprocket? Thank you.

By: Alex

Alex — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 21:36:54 +0000

James, it sounds like your freehub body is seized and may need replacing.

By: James

James — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 21:09:57 +0000

very helpful video.
I’ve just bought a used bike and came to realize that my cassette doesn’t spin at all! Any ideas?

By: Alex

Alex — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 01:45:16 +0000

Yes, some cassettes are set up different… the one I used in the video was the most common setup. As long as the spacing between the sprockets is equal it should work fine!