Is the Park tool FR-5 the right tool I should need to remove my shimano 8-speed cassette? Is the chain whip tool also necessary?

thanks

you need the whip to remove it if you have a free wheel ...but not to replace it.

Whip it! Whip it real good!

What do you mean to remove it...but not to replace it? I guess it is a free wheel?? Off a MTB. You mean free wheel as opposed to locking as in a rear brake skid??

Is the Park Tool mentioned above the appropriate one? Sorry, I am new to much of bike terminology.

Whip it good -Devo

You only have 53 posts and you've already paid up $25? And here I am with 875+, and I have no idea what you're trying to say.

Take your rear wheel in hand. Spin the casette. Whirr, clickity clickity. That's the action of a free wheel hub. Cool right? The direction that the casette spins is the direction that the lock ring needs to spin to come off. So the whip holds the casette while you wrench the lock ring off. See?

You don't need the whip to put it back on because the casette engages in the forward direction. IOW, it doesn't free wheel in both directions. Therefore, you can use the leverage of the whole wheel against the torque of the wrench to replace the lock ring. Easy. Right?

Your avatar... that is the flavor of the month?

Yes and Yes.

Oh okay...I totally understand what you mean now. I didn't realize when you said replace it you meant re-assembly. duhh...my bad

yes I try to change it every so often. This time it is Diane Kruger as Helen in TROY.

With the advice I have been getting from the knowledgeable people here...it was/is so worth it.

What do you mean...you don't know what I am talking about? Did I say stuff all wrong? I thought I stated my question okay.

Brian, I hope that's a pic of your wife, Dude....

She's pretty!

hahahaha dude...its Helen. The face that launched a thousand ships.