allen254

So to day i was out riding my bike and i noticed a creaking sound kinda of grindish sound but mainly creaky sounding..

Got home listened to see where the creaking noise was coming from, at first i thought it was my bottom bracket but then i noticed when i pressed on my
cassettes cogs they all feel loose and when also when pressing on each cog it makes that creaking sound so annoying,, and the shifting wasn't very smooth

So is the cassette just loose? or could it be broken? i can still ride the bike even though i wont be riding it. i don't want to really end up breaking something im taking it to the bike shop tomorrow

bt

check your quick release for tightness.

CliffordK

The Cassette is probably just loose.

Some of the low end cassettes are just pinned together, but the pins just hold things in place, but aren't necessary.
Shimano may have had some problems with some of the Dura Ace Carbon Fiber Cassettes breaking, but I think that issue has been resolved.

If the freehub body under the cassette is steel, it should be pretty durable.

Anyway, the shop should be able to tighten it pretty quickly, or you could if you had a freehub tool (and chainwhip?)

allen254

its Shimano HG-20, 12-28T, 7-speed, its a very low end cassette i hope its just loose, the bike is new i have owned it 4 months ..

i was i had the tools id do it my self ..

hueyhoolihan

IME, a chainwhip is necessary to loosen a cassette lockring not tighten it. but one of these is necessary to do either.


your lbs should have one. or buy it online at amazon. about eight dollars. order one and be patient is my recommendation.

BTW, from the OP's description, as already mentioned, the lockring may be loose.

allen254

Thank you all ,, i will look into that tool right now

CliffordK

Right, I thought I saw an info page suggesting the whip to tighten, but if your freehub, hub, and spokes can take pedalling, then they can take occasional tightening the cassette.

Personally I like to have all the maintenance tools I might need. For example, the chain whip would be necessary to replace a broken spoke.

Make sure the tool is for a cassette, and not a freewheel.

For example:
Park FR-5


Of course, there are other brands/models.

Homebrew01

He said the cassette cogs were loose, not that the wheel was loose.

As already suggested, probably a loose lockring.

bt

ya but he's a rookie and a lot of noise can be caused by a loose skewer so there.

allen254

Sorry i didn't get back sooner, so the shop mechanic checked and he said everything was fine (Cassette and cog wise),
except he checked the true of my rear wheel and there was a spoke about to pop of or super loose spoke/s, i could loosen and tighten with my fingers that's how loose it was
and i have no idea how long i had been riding around like that, and as soon as he tightened and re-trued the rear wheel no more creaky sound from the cassette or cogs.

bt

nice call homebrew

Homebrew01

Huh ?

Homebrew01

If you had a loose spoke, why did you say you could feel loose cogs ??
A loose spoke would not affect shifting.

allen254

well i think the shifting just had to do with the rear derailleur but the mechanic adjusted it so i think the shifting part was its own problem.

that's the weird part the cogs did feel loose ,, idk man all i know is he tightened and re-trued the wheel and its all good now
It could have been a combination of things .

hueyhoolihan

IME, internet forums are a poor way to diagnose or describe problems. each could require a short essay. but it's better than nothing.

popeye

Keep an eye on that wheel.