Touring - Cassette Removal Tool on Tour?

Unior makes a nice one, but it's only sold from S. Korea with steep shipping rates for such a small item. Are there any places in USA to buy this? I loathe having to haul a chain whip, removal tool, and wrench. I know about Kevlar spokes, z-bending a spoke, and other work arounds, but would rather do the job once.

http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/tools/cassette.html

http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/tools/cassette.html

Yes but. they are out of stock on unior. the hyper-cracker is $36.95 + $8.50 shipping. wow. But you did answer my question. Maybe I should order 1000 uniors from company and sell them on this site. Even better...rent them out.

how tightly do you install your cassette? i get the lockring finger-tight, then use the
tool to turn it about 12"clicks." that way, i'm able to hold the cassette with my hand
to open it, using a 6" crescent wrench + cassette tool. i don't need a chainwhip. could
maybe lose an ounce by using a cutoff 19mm cone wrench or even a homemade dealie.

how tightly do you install your cassette? i get the lockring finger-tight, then use the
tool to turn it about 12"clicks." that way, i'm able to hold the cassette with my hand
to open it, using a 6" crescent wrench + cassette tool. i don't need a chainwhip. could
maybe lose an ounce by using a cutoff 19mm cone wrench or even a homemade dealie.

I went ahead and ordered the Unior 1669 from Bicyclehero.com (S. Korea). Total price with shipping was less than $15. I guess I was looking at the Fed Ex shipping costs 1st time around at their site. We'll see if it works as advertised.:)

I went ahead and ordered the Unior 1669 from Bicyclehero.com (S. Korea). Total price with shipping was less than $15. I guess I was looking at the Fed Ex shipping costs 1st time around at their site. We'll see if it works as advertised.:)

It is my preferred tool for roadside cassette removal. Smaller, simpler, cheaper, and no pieces to come apart and get lost

I've never actually needed to remove the cassette while on tour, only around town, so that's a tool I'm comfortable leaving at home. I've got the Fiberfix kevlar replacement in the event I do need it. I figure I can fix it and ride to the next bike shop to get a permanent replacement (along with water, munchies, and socialize a bit).

You don't need a heavy chain whip on tour, a small piece of rope, twine, 1" black nylon web strapping all work well, (even used some strong vines of vegetation one time in a pinch). It's true you don't need to tighten down that lock ring too tight and in fact you can strip those small theads somewhat easily if not careful but it will tighten up significantly on its own when you're powering up hills with a full load in a higher gear. And I also think that a small wide gap crescent wrench comes in handy in so many ways that I hate to be without one.

Other posters said.. zip tie the Low gear cog to the spokes temporarily,
instead of a chain whip.

I used the NBT2 cassette tool for about 6 spoke repairs by the roadside (my chain derailed and gouged out the spokes which started to snap every few days).
It is a bit fiddly to use, works best with vertical dropouts and is tricky with horizontal ones. I tighten to about 7-8 clicks using a small adjustable wrench, it wont remover a workshop-tight cassette.
Why doesnt anyone make a Pamir Hypercracker? What would it take to put it back into production? Who ownes the rights?

zip tie the Low gear cog to the spokes temporarily,
instead of a chain whip.

That's clever, one of those >> why didn't I think of that?

I have Steins cassette crackers (http://www.jastein.com/PDF/cassette%20lock%20inst.pdf)--both Shimano & Campy. They are simple, effective and easy to use and very light in the tool kit.

You don't need a heavy chain whip on tour, a small piece of rope, twine, 1" black nylon web strapping all work well, (even used some strong vines of vegetation one time in a pinch). It's true you don't need to tighten down that lock ring too tight and in fact you can strip those small theads somewhat easily if not careful but it will tighten up significantly on its own when you're powering up hills with a full load in a higher gear. And I also think that a small wide gap crescent wrench comes in handy in so many ways that I hate to be without one.

I filed down two of the flats on my cassette removal tool to allow me to use a smaller adjustable wrench. I have no idea why the cassette removal tools are designed for such a huge wrench.

More on my lightweight (42 grams) chain whip here which uses a bit of used chain and some cord where I posted a photo:
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/805202-Chain-Whip-for-Travel?p=13982584#post13982584

If you do not have some used chain at home, most bike shops have one in the garbage can but you would want to bring a good plastic bag to the shop when you ask them if they have one.

I filed down two of the flats on my cassette removal tool to allow me to use a smaller adjustable wrench. I have no idea why the cassette removal tools are designed for such a huge wrench.]


I have the feeling it was a holdover from the days of freewheels, when you really did need an adjustable wrench that big. At least this way, all the removal tools sit nicely together on the same peg board, and are probably made from the same stock.

Hold the cassette with a poly strap and your hand.

You can build a complete wheel with z-bend spokes,it will be fine.

I have the NBT2 in my toolbag. It has worked OK the few times I've ever needed it.

--J

I made one of these:
http://www.mark-ju.net/bike_ride/equipment/hypercracker.htm

I bought a standard Shimano cassette lock-ring tool and used a Dremal Tool to cut away the areas indicated in the link and it works like a charm.

I have Steins cassette crackers (http://www.jastein.com/PDF/cassette%20lock%20inst.pdf)--both Shimano & Campy. They are simple, effective and easy to use and very light in the tool kit.

I also carry one of these but haven't as yet actually had the need to use it in anger. 31 grams of security.

Andrew