Bicycle Mechanics - Chain Whip substitute?

Ok, I blew 8 bucks on a cassette tool, but I just can't put down another 35 for a chain whip. I know one is useless without the other, but the Park Chain Whip must weigh well over a pound, is expensive, and bulky.
Is there any way I can remove my cassette to get to future busted spokes without having a chain whip with me? Has anyone ever used something in place of a chain whip or is there just no substitute?

Dave

i'm not sure if you can remove the cassette w/o the chain whip. I know it sux..but you can always find a cheaper brand than the Park one. Or, you could try to make one if you're really strapped for cash. Just use some extra chain links (if you have any) and copy the design of the Park one. I'm not sure if there's another way other than using the chainwhip...good luck.

There used to be a small tool called a Hypercracker, made by Pamyr that undid the locknut, on the bike with no chaintool required. It was a must-have tool, but the company went bust.
Anyone know if the tool is still around ?

Dwagenheim. do you carry a small vise grip 4or5"? Clamp a bit of chain in the vise grip and use it as your whip.

Originally posted by MichaelW
There used to be a small tool called a Hypercracker, made by Pamyr that undid the locknut, on the bike with no chaintool required. It was a must-have tool, but the company went bust.
Anyone know if the tool is still around ?
There is a similar tool promoted in Australian Cyclist Magazine. I've got the mag at work so I can't give you more details at the moment. I'll check it out and post the details. (Unless someone has the mag handy and beats me to it.)

I fashioned a makeshift chainwhip by taking a piece of aluminum bar stock 3/16" thick x 1 1/2" w x 4 1/2" long and drilling holes in it so I could arrange chains on it similar to a chain whip. It weighs very little, fits in my under seat pack and does the job in a pinch.

My new roadbike came with a crappy wheelset and was breaking at least 1 spoke every ride. This tool, a cogset remover, a spoke wrench and carrying spare spokes always got me home.

I have the Pamir Engineering hypercracker in my toolbox and carry it when on tour. It's a nifty little tool and does its job well. It actually takes the place of a chainwhip, cassette lockring tool, and wrench. It is perfect for the road though I don't think it's a suitable substitute for a chain whip in your home toolkit. You might be able to find one as new old stock at a bike shop. It is certainly worth looking for.

Originally posted by ljbike
Dwagenheim. do you carry a small vise grip 4or5"? Clamp a bit of chain in the vise grip and use it as your whip.

That's what I use.

35 BUCKS? I got one from Nashbar for about $8, and since I was ordering other stuff the shipping was no big deal. I think they list it as a sprocket removal tool. The vice grips and a length of chain sounds like a great idea. You only need the chainwhip for a second, just to break the lockring loose. In a pinch I have managed just by using a wooden dowel, board or other non-marring item stuck in the space between two teeth and blocked by the chain stay with a rag or something for protection. DON"T apply so much pressure you damage anything. If it doesn't loosen pretty easily, STOP and try something else. Just about anything that allows you to block the cassette from turning, without damaging anything like a spoke or the frame, will work. I think I've even gotten enough grip just by hooking a tooth with the hole at the base of an adjustable wrench handle. It shouldn't take too much unless whoever put it on went all King Kong on the lockring. When you replace the cassette it's not necessary to tighten the lockring extremely, just get it good and snug with what might be termed moderate pressure.
FWIW,
Raymond

Pedro's makes a cog wrench, neatO, see it here (http://www.pedros.com/tools2.html)
:beer:

Originally posted by ljbike
Dwagenheim. do you carry a small vise grip 4or5"? Clamp a bit of chain in the vise grip and use it as your whip.

That´s a good solution or make your own with an old chain and cone spanner or other type of tool with not to thick grip. Drill out three holes and attach the chain like on a chainwhip. I have made one this way.

Anders K

old chain and vice grip - pretty straightforward

Used the visegrip/old chian method for years with perfect results. I finally did end up buying the cheapo Nashbar one recently, it's performed great. After all , it's just a hunk of chain and a handle, pretty low tech.

Harris Cyclery sells a nifty little tool that will loosen your cassette lockring without need for the chainwhip or the regular lockting tool.

Throw a rag on the cassette to protect your hand, grab the cassette and unscrew the lock ring with the other hand. It has always worked for me.

There's also the Dutch "NextBestThing 2" which is one piece and as such easier to use (ok, the difference is tiny) than the lockring tool Harris Cyclery sells. No chainwhip / lockring tool needed with the NBT2 either.

--J

Throw a rag on the cassette to protect your hand, grab the cassette and unscrew the lock ring with the other hand. It has always worked for me.

That's it there. I heard of that one for the first time from sydney, and I'm surprised it didn't arise earlier in the discussion. So simple, but easily overlooked as a possibility.

I've got a couple homemade ones that consist of old, worn out chains run through old handlebars(one steel, one aluminum). Loop the chain around a cog on the cassette, butt the end of the handlebar on one of the teeth so the chain's taut, and hold. Both mine are uncut, but I'm sure they could be cut down to carry on rides.

That's it there. I heard of that one for the first time from sydney, and I'm surprised it didn't arise earlier in the discussion. So simple, but easily overlooked as a possibility.

I took off a real tight one last night using a rag with a splint on the middle finger of my left hand. (snapped tendon)

I edited my post because I realized that it read like I snapped a tendon removing the cassette.

Is this for repairs during your ride? Fiberfix (http://www.yellowjersey.org/fiberfix.html) is a kevlar replacement spoke for replacing on the road. You don't need to remove the cassette. I've never used it, but it gets great reviews.

I have heard that some chain whip substitutes may contain synthetic ingredients that have been shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals.

i have an unconventional design that I made without really looking at a chainwhip and having used one only once before. I cut off a hockey stick and wrapped a piece of chain around the end and screwed to each side, then screwed a piece of chain to the side. it works. But I think I will get a lenght of some beat up alluminum ruller and make a park tool look alike.

Heres one for $9.00. http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/14596-325_SETWH5-2-Accessories-42-Tools/Sette-Torx-ST-501A-Chain-Whip_Sprocket-Remover.htm

In the past I've used a rag around the cassette and held it tight with large channel lock pliers.

i have an unconventional design that I made without really looking at a chainwhip and having used one only once before. I cut off a hockey stick and wrapped a piece of chain around the end and screwed to each side, then screwed a piece of chain to the side. it works. But I think I will get a lenght of some beat up alluminum ruller and make a park tool look alike.


Is there anything Canadians can't do with an old hockey stick? True story, the CN tower in Toronto is actually made of old hockey sticks.

Similar to the vice-grip solution, I clamped one end of an old chain in a bench vice, and then stood the wheel upright, right next to the vice. I then used one hand to hold the wheel, the other hand to undo the cassette lockring.

Is this for repairs during your ride? Fiberfix (http://www.yellowjersey.org/fiberfix.html) is a kevlar replacement spoke for replacing on the road. You don't need to remove the cassette. I've never used it, but it gets great reviews.

I have used a FiberFix spoke on a ride, several times. It's awesome. Does exactly what it says it will, has gotten me home every time.

Throw a rag on the cassette to protect your hand, grab the cassette and unscrew the lock ring with the other hand. It has always worked for me.

I don't understand how this works--isn't the lockring always tighter than "finger-tight"? Theoretically at least?

You turn the lock ring tool with a wrench with one hand while you keep the cassette from turning by wrapping a rag around it and holding it with the other hand. I've always been able to remove lock rings that way, and I'm not particularly strong. I'm just saying try it before you buy a tool you may not need.

I don't understand how this works--isn't the lockring always tighter than "finger-tight"? Theoretically at least?

it should be ~40nm. he means just use the towel to hold the cassette, or twist it around the cassette. you still need a proper cassette lockring tool to tighten/loosen-this is unique to each manufacturer.

Found links for modifying a lock-ring tool to use without a chainwhip:
http://www.mark-ju.net/bike_ride/equipment/hypercracker.htm
http://ohmelovelo.dnsalias.org/tools/tools.html

For on-bike, touring use this seems like a good idea to avoid carrying a chainwhip.
Note that on the second linked page, they direct you to "roll the bike backwards" to undo the lockring.
This sounds wrong to me. I would think you'd roll the bike forward, since this would be the equivalent of turning the lockring CCW - lefty-loosey, righty-tighty?

Just put the chain on the biggest cog and stand on the chain.

There used to be a small tool called a Hypercracker, made by Pamyr that undid the locknut, on the bike with no chaintool required. It was a must-have tool, but the company went bust.
Anyone know if the tool is still around ?

Stein makes a tool called the HyperHandle (http://www.jastein.com/Html/Hyper-Handle.htm) that does just what you say. I imagine it's the same tool as the 'cracker.

speaking of chainwhips, do they sell chainwhips with 1/8" links...for single speed stuff?

Out of desperation, I made a shop (garage), use whip by using an old chain bolted to a 3 foot long by 1 foot wide piece of plywood. I cut the chain so it would go from the ground, and around the largest cog of a 700C wheel. This way, there's enough chain for a 26" wheel as well. Place the wheel to the left of the chain if the cassette is on the right side of the wheel, (I marked it on the piece of plywood to eliminate second guessing), and hold the wheel firmly in place with one hand. Then, with both feet planted on the plywood, on either side of the wheel, use the remover tool, et voila. The cassette comes off every time. I do recommend having fully inflated tires, or bare rims. I can post a picture if I didn't explain it well.

I use a car oil filter tool which cost about AUD$10 from an auto shop; that's about 20 dollars less than the proper tool. This is one of the older styles which has a chain attached to a handle. Works well; i've use it several times now without problems.

Until someone gave me an old chain whip, I just used an old chain and a bench vise--it worked quite well.

old chain and vice grip - pretty straightforward+1

hi guys,
i use a claw hammer.
the narrow inside chain links lock into the claw hammer.
i hold the cassete with the chain around the gears and then unlock the lock ring.
i use a short length of old chain with the claw hammer .
does the same job as a chain whip at zero cost.

I've bought chain whips for $5. More than worth it for the cost saved in towels :D