Caustic

I was in the process of doing the simple fix of tightening my cassette. I am stumped on how to do it.



This cassette (Sram 7-speed) may look like its already secured on, but its not. I checked the Freewheel bolt with a FR-1 and the sucker is still factory tightly snug. So, how can the locking ring just pop out like that?

How do I tighten the lock ring back onto the cogs?

reptilezs

that is a freewheel. if the outer lock ring is loose there are no proper/real tools to use on it. try a punch and hammer

Asi

remove the last cog to gain better access to that cap with two holes. There is a pin spanner but a punch and a hammer works every time.

Caustic

I found my problem. Looks like I'll have to get a lockring tool from my lbs. I don't want to take the risk of damaging the lockring, or any other component for that matter. Not to derail the thread but, what lubricants should I use when putting the cassette back together? Besides an anti-seize lube for the lockring, is there anything else I should know about?

Thanks for the help.

Jeff Wills

Once again: you have a freewheel, not a cassette. There's a difference, and until you learn the difference you'll confuse every bike mechanic you talk to and you'll get confusing answers if you post any more questions about it.

I wouldn't attempt to disassemble a freewheel unless it was already damaged and I didn't have the correct removal tool. I think yours takes a standard Shimano tool- if so, you're home free.

If you want to lube the bearings:
1. take off the freewheel
2. run some heavy oil into the gap between the inner and outer body
3. spin it a couple times to get the oil to travel into the bearings
4. thread the freewheel back on the hub

If this doesn't make sense to you, pay your local bike shop to remove the freewheel for you and have them show you the back side of the freewheel body. It should become clear to you.

velo-orange

Yyes- this is a freewheel, made by Epoch/ DNP. It's NOT a SRAM cassette. What is loose? Why do you feel the need to tighten it? Most freewheels have some wobble or runout as it spins. If the cogs are loose on the freewheel body there does not look to be a way to tighten it. Freewheels are cheap- I'd replace with a Shimano though.

velo-orange

here's what we are talking about:
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/free-k7.html

Caustic

After reading up, I'm going to have to apologize for being incorrect with the terms. So from now on, I will call it a freewheel.
Basically, the lockring COMPLETELY loosened off (The round piece that says"By DNP"), which at the same time made everything else on the freehub fall apart (Sprockets and spacers).

These cheap DNP freewheels are more so single use? So I should much rather just buy a better freewheel then instead of wasting my time on this POS?

nhluhr

Yep, that is a $20 part at best. Just replace it (with something better like a Shimano freewheel) before you spend any more time on it.

Also, you said "freehub" in your last post. Freehubs are what cassettes slide onto. You have neither. You have a hub and freewheel. https://www.sheldonbrown.com/free-k7.html