Originally Posted by
Dan Burkhart
You don't need the chainwhip for installation, only for removal. The fact that you were able to remove the lockring without a removal tool or a chainwhip indicates that it was way loose as you discovered.
You will need a lockring tool to tighten it up.
+1
Spend the 5 or 7 bucks on the chainring tool. You will not get it anywhere near tight enough otherwise. You can buy the chainwhip later if you ever need to remove a cassette.
Edit: No need to take it to a shop yet. Get the right tool and tighten it up correctly. That lockring needs to be way tighter than your hand or a screw driver or anything else will get it.