cassette and chain change

snig

first time doing this myself,LBS want to charge £20 and the parts,which I guess will be at full price too so if I have priced it right I can buy the cassette and chain on sale and tools for less than LBS,just need to check is a fairly easy job?

these are the tools I think I need,if I haen't left anything out,
chainwhip http://www.wiggle.co.uk/lifeline-9-speed-chain-whip/
chain tool http://www.wiggle.co.uk/park-tools-chai ... hain-tool/
cassette removal tool http://www.wiggle.co.uk/lifeline-casset ... oval-tool/

the only thing I don't have is a torque wrench,do I need to watch the torques on this job?

cheers

bike is a GT AVAL 1.0

using cassette http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... delID=1094
Chain http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... odelID=656

rolf_f

Good on you for doing it yourself. Once you have the hang of it it is a 30 second job* and a useful one as it is far easier to clean a cassette when it is off the bike than on.

Try one of these: http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalo ... YQ8wIwAQ#p

There are loads of variations of these kits on the market and I think that some are better than others. But generally they are much of a muchness. It will include all three things you need and the tools are OK (ie adequate and able to do the job if you aren't brutal with them). That said, I did just break the chain tool on mine! But a replacement to fit in the box will cost less than a fiver and I have used my kit to maintain my bikes over 20,000 miles including three bikes completely rebuilt (one several times!).

As for the torque wrench - it isn't strictly necessary and the lockring doesn't allow for accurate torque readings anyway. However, I did end up wrecking a cassette tool due to previously overtightnening a lockring - so the £15 big torque wrench I got from Lidl ensures I torque to the same amount every time.

* Well, OK, I reckon the bike shop would take about 5 minutes to do it and that includes finding the right cassette! £20 is either outrageous or they just don't want to do it. I think I was charged £10-£15 to fit a bottom bracket and that carries a much greater risk of becoming messy!

wakou

+1 to doing it yourself, I was a bit apprehensive, but did it once and now regularly whip off the cassetttes for a quick clean. Only thing to watch for is NOT to over-tighten. It does not need to be uber-tight and, if you are using a long adjustable spanner on the lockring tool, and holding the wheel with the other hand as I do, you can apply a huge amount of leverage. My LBS said 'no need for a torque wrench, just tighten so that you hear/feel a few clicks (from the grip splines on the lock ring)"