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I've got a very old freehub lock-ring removal tool. It must be 20+ years old but it doesn't fit one of my recent hubs (with a Sunrace cassette).
This got me thinking...do different cassettes require different freehub removal tools (the part with splines NOT the chain whip)
For instance, I've got multiple bikes with a mixture of cassette manufacturers (SRAM GX Eagle 12 spd, Shimano Deore 11-51 12 spd, Sunrace 11-40 10 spd and Shimano 11-34 11 spd).
In other words, can I buy one tool for all these cassettes?
There's one sort for old fashioned screw-on cassettes, the kind where the freewheel is in the cassette rather than part of the hub, and another for more modern cassettes which fit over a freewheel which is part of the hub.
God only knows if there's a new 'standard' nowadays (I hate that word)
And now I can't do pictures
Screw on sort
which I think you might have
Modern sort
which i think you need
If you want to try before you buy and check them I have both kinds, you are.welcome to pop round if you are anywhere near the Tweed Valley, pm me
...and you need the modern one without a central pin for fork caps that use the same system.
…and one with a thinner wall for some centre lock hubs where there’s a slightly smaller gap between the lock ring and the hub end caps than in a typical free hub.
...and one with a cut out section to work on Manitou forks.
All my cassettes use the same tool. Some Shimano, but some Chinese brands like sunrace. It's a tool I've had for at least 20 years. You can also swap the lock ring between them so it is reasonably standard.
The cassette lockring splined profile is the same across all cassettes and CL lock rings., ignoring the old screw on type.
Thru axles require a larger bore in the tool though to clear the larger axle diameters compared to the smaller QR axles 20 years ago.
I had to buy a new tool for axle clearance.
On my Bontrager branded hub I had to remove the DS cap off the axle to get even my thinnest wall lock ring tool on! I thought u was going to have to buy another one!
The only thing I'd advise is get a tool that doesn't have chamfered splines, the lock ring on SRAM cassettes is shallower than on Shimano and benefits from splines that continue at the same height to the end to give more grip.
No
Yes
I've ended up with at least 3 tools although the splined interface for the cassette hasn't changed
- central pin for QR axles (pins help keep it straight and make it much easier to use)
- large pin for 12mm axles
- no pin for fitting disc brake to an Alfine hub!
- maybe also another because that one wasn't deep enough for something else....
Thanks guys. Luckily, I figured out that I had to remove an end cap first and my existing tool does work for the job in hand...👍