Bicycle Mechanics - how much force is needed to take out lockring?

and what would be the best way to get enough torque?
do i put downward pressure on both levers by standing on top of wheel and push down
or do i lay wheel flat and pull both levers towards each other.
in both cases the lock ring adapter is going counter clockwise direction

Well, here's what I do ...

I use one of these:

http://www.parktool.com/products/detail.asp?cat=4&item=FRW%2D1

to hold my lockring tool, so I can easily get a lot of leverage.

I usually sit in chair with the non drive side of the wheel facing me.
Lean over the wheel and install the chainwhip (or cog_holding_tool - my preference) so that it's handle is pointing to the left.
Install the lockring removal wrench so that it's pointing to the right.
Now, lean over a little and push down on both "levers". Use your weight.

That pretty much always works for me.


Alternately, another method is to put the lockring tool in a bench vise, sit the wheel on it and turn the wheel in the lockring_loosening direction. This is a pretty standard shop trick and you can even enlist the help of another person.

k thanks i'll try what you do

edit: i couldn't wait to buy that tool you showed me so i just used a 17in breaker bar i had around the house and it was easier than expected :)

do i need to lube the cassette with anything? can i just spray wd40 on it to clean it off?

k thanks i'll try what you do

edit: i couldn't wait to buy that tool you showed me so i just used a 17in breaker bar i had around the house and it was easier than expected :)

do i need to lube the cassette with anything? can i just spray wd40 on it to clean it off?

Yeh, if your lockring tool takes a 3/8" drive (or whatever), then a breaker bar is great.

Clean the cassette with some citrus degreaser and get it as clean as you can. It's never going to be easier to clean than when it's removed from the wheel. Clean the outside of your freehub, too. No grease or anything needed on the freehub body. Leave it dry unless you plan to not remove your cassette again for five years, or if you store your bike outside in the elements. Greasing the outside of a freehub just attracts crud and creates a totally unnecessary goopy mess. When I re-install the cassette I DO put a tiny little bit of grease on the threads of the lock ring. This makes it much easier to remove the next time.

edit: i couldn't wait to buy that tool you showed me so i just used a 17in breaker bar i had around the house and it was easier than expected :)

That tool is not cheap, but it makes loosening lockrings so much easier. I love it and use it all the time.

Geez, I'd hope it would be very little.

Oh! lockring.

boy was that messy... haha first time i took anything off a bike

thanks for your help

Geez, I'd hope it would be very little.

Oh! lockring.

i don't have any ring of any kind so no hassle from that department yet ;)