I am building a wheel with an old 3-speed hub. I would like to take the sproket off to make wheel building easier but I dont have a cassette remover that fits (it has 3 semi-circle holes)

Can I get this off in any other way? what about putting it back on (just hand tight and ride it)?

Im thinking needle nose pliers

Every 3 speed hub I have had the sprocket was held on with a spring that could be pried off then the sprocket came right off. Sachs, S/A and Shimano
Have a picture?

You don't need one. He's describing the 3 semicircular protrusions that are found on the *cog*. The snap-ring is as you described.

I think you have the type of hub which a77 refers to. The splines are in the hub; it is not a lockring you see.

The sprocket has three splines which slip into the 3 splines in the hub.

If I am right there will be a retaining ring just to the outside of the sprocket. It is just a piece of spring wire bent into a circle. It retains the sprocket by snapping into an annular groove in the hub which prevents the sprocket from sliding off the three splines in the hub. To remove it you just find the seam and pry it out with an old screwdriver or something.

intriguing, what you said makes sense


oh wow neato! thats awesome!

double post