Can I inspect for a worn cassette?
09-04-11, 04:00 PM
#1
Have bike, will travel
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Lake Geneva, WI
Posts: 12,392
Bikes: Ridley Helium SLX, Canyon Endurance SL, De Rosa Professional, Eddy Merckx Corsa Extra, Schwinn Paramount (1 painted, 1 chrome), Peugeot PX10, Serotta Nova X, Simoncini Cyclocross Special, Raleigh Roker, Pedal Force CG2 and CX2
Mentioned: 46 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 909 Post(s)
Liked 285 Times
in
156 Posts
Can I inspect for a worn cassette?
I have a two year old Shimano 105 5603 triple drivetrain on my bike. This drivetrain now has about 8000 miles on it. I’ll soon be replacing, for the second time, the chain. I was going to replace the cassette at the same time; I don’t want to shorten the life a new chain by installing it on worn cogs.
However the cassette looks like new. The bike also shifts well and I don’t have any problems with the drivetrain.
Does a cassette show wear? Should I change it anyway, based on 8000 miles of use?
However the cassette looks like new. The bike also shifts well and I don’t have any problems with the drivetrain.
Does a cassette show wear? Should I change it anyway, based on 8000 miles of use?
Last edited by Barrettscv; 09-04-11 at 05:40 PM. Reason: to better approximate mileage
09-04-11, 04:13 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Roswell, GA
Posts: 8,317
Bikes: '93 Trek 750, '92 Schwinn Crisscross, '93 Mongoose Alta
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1437 Post(s)
Liked 1,085 Times
in
720 Posts
Barrettscv: It's hard to judge the condition of a cassette by eye unless it is really trashed. Easiest thing is to go ahead and change the chain, if the new chain skips you need a new cassette, if not you are good. If you don't let the chain get too worn before replacement you should be able to go through several chains before a cassette needs changing as well.
09-04-11, 04:31 PM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: New Rochelle, NY
Posts: 37,132
Bikes: too many bikes from 1967 10s (5x2)Frejus to a Sumitomo Ti/Chorus aluminum 10s (10x2), plus one non-susp mtn bike I use as my commuter
Mentioned: 132 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4997 Post(s)
Liked 1,110 Times
in
648 Posts
+1,
The best indicator of cassette condition is whether the new chain runs smoothly. the condition of the chain you removed is also a good predictor of a worn cassette, but no assurance of a good cassette.
There's some debate as to whether running a new chain on a worn, but OK cassette is bad for the chain, so what follows is only a qualified opinion based on both my experience and empiracal analysis. Others will disagree.
IMO while chains wear cassettes, the opposite isn't true, and the life of a new chain is relatively unaffected by the cassette it's running on (providing it runs smoothly without skipping). I can usually run 3-5 chains on a single cassette and the life of the last is virtually identical the that of the first.
The best indicator of cassette condition is whether the new chain runs smoothly. the condition of the chain you removed is also a good predictor of a worn cassette, but no assurance of a good cassette.
There's some debate as to whether running a new chain on a worn, but OK cassette is bad for the chain, so what follows is only a qualified opinion based on both my experience and empiracal analysis. Others will disagree.
IMO while chains wear cassettes, the opposite isn't true, and the life of a new chain is relatively unaffected by the cassette it's running on (providing it runs smoothly without skipping). I can usually run 3-5 chains on a single cassette and the life of the last is virtually identical the that of the first.
__________________
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
“Never argue with an idiot. He will only bring you down to his level and beat you with experience.”, George Carlin
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
“Never argue with an idiot. He will only bring you down to his level and beat you with experience.”, George Carlin
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
09-04-11, 04:43 PM
#4
Have bike, will travel
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Lake Geneva, WI
Posts: 12,392
Bikes: Ridley Helium SLX, Canyon Endurance SL, De Rosa Professional, Eddy Merckx Corsa Extra, Schwinn Paramount (1 painted, 1 chrome), Peugeot PX10, Serotta Nova X, Simoncini Cyclocross Special, Raleigh Roker, Pedal Force CG2 and CX2
Mentioned: 46 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 909 Post(s)
Liked 285 Times
in
156 Posts
Thanks, Good to know that a cassette can outlast a chain by more than a factor of two. I'll change a chain every 3000-4000 miles even if it is performing well. I also wipe down the chain, cogs and chainrings twice a month to keep the drivetrain clean. I'll lube once a month and keep the chain well oiled.
09-04-11, 04:52 PM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: New Rochelle, NY
Posts: 37,132
Bikes: too many bikes from 1967 10s (5x2)Frejus to a Sumitomo Ti/Chorus aluminum 10s (10x2), plus one non-susp mtn bike I use as my commuter
Mentioned: 132 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4997 Post(s)
Liked 1,110 Times
in
648 Posts
Thanks, Good to know that a cassette can outlast a chain by more than a factor of two. I'll change a chain every 3000-4000 miles even if it is performing well. I also wipe down the chain, cogs and chainrings twice a month to keep the drivetrain clean. I'll lube once a month and keep the chain well oiled.
When I suspect the cassette is near the end (by sound and eye) I run the last chain until they both die. Often this can be well past 1% stretch so I'm milking lots of bonus miles knowing I'm replacing everything anyway.
__________________
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
“Never argue with an idiot. He will only bring you down to his level and beat you with experience.”, George Carlin
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
“Never argue with an idiot. He will only bring you down to his level and beat you with experience.”, George Carlin
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
09-04-11, 05:20 PM
#6
just pokin' along
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: the desert
Posts: 1,095
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 11 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
The last cassette I retired (a 5600 10sp, too) had 12,500 miles on it over the course of five chains. Out of curiosity, I put a nearly new (< 100 mile) chain on it and rode it around the neighborhood, including standing on a local hill. No issues. However I disassembled the cassette and matched each cog against those of a new cassette. This showed the amount of cog wear to be quite noticeable. But after so many miles, I missed the feel of a new chain and cassette on that bike, so on went the new cassette. I don't doubt that I could have gotten another chain and maybe 15k off that cassette.
09-07-11, 12:59 PM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: NoVA
Posts: 1,421
Bikes: Specialized Allez Sport
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
The last cassette I retired (a 5600 10sp, too) had 12,500 miles on it over the course of five chains. Out of curiosity, I put a nearly new (< 100 mile) chain on it and rode it around the neighborhood, including standing on a local hill. No issues. However I disassembled the cassette and matched each cog against those of a new cassette. This showed the amount of cog wear to be quite noticeable. But after so many miles, I missed the feel of a new chain and cassette on that bike, so on went the new cassette. I don't doubt that I could have gotten another chain and maybe 15k off that cassette.
Let me see if I understand you correctly: even though there is no shifting issues, using the old cassette did have a noticeable (feeling) effect, right? If so, what was it that you were feeling? I'm just curious.
09-07-11, 01:59 PM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 6,957
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
5 Posts
Can I inspect for a worn cassette?
As the others said, it's not something to judge by eye, except in over-the-top cases. A particular customer comes to mind, he seems to ride in one specific cog practically all the time and the wear is so outrageous that it actually is obvious. But he's an exception.
09-07-11, 03:14 PM
#9
Senior Member
