Bicycle Mechanics - Cogs separated when I removed it from the wheel

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ehron
08-05-08, 04:18 PM
My rear wheel broke. I just pulled the shimano style cassette off the wheel using the appropriate removal tool, and a chain whip. When I pulled it off the 2 smallest cogs came loose. Is this normal, or is my cassette broken?

It seems like this shouldn't matter seeing as how they will just slide back onto the new freehub, but I wanted to make sure. Thanks.

LagunaPaul
08-05-08, 04:25 PM
It is normal that the smallest cogs are separate, stand alone cogs while the larger ones are fixed together. Depending the exact cog, etc the number varies, but 2 sounds normal. You'd have to break and tear a lot of metal to rip a cog to pieces. If you want to post a picture, I'm sure we could make a definite diagnosis.
caloso
08-05-08, 04:38 PM
Oh, no! You broke it! You'll have to buy a brand new bike.

(Just kidding: that's perfectly normal.

http://www.branfordbike.com/images/cassette/shda9.jpg

ehron
08-05-08, 05:34 PM
Ha, thanks guys. That is what I suspected, but I thought I would verify. You know, with my godlike strength and everything... :-)
Bill Kapaun
08-05-08, 10:04 PM
I've separated the "fixed" cogs on a couple cassettes and use the loose cogs in a "custom" configuration.
Just file off the rivet heads and drive the pins out.