How to Install a Mountain Bike Gear Cassette

Changing the gear cassette on a mountain bike will be necessary from time to time. Instead of spending a lot of money on a professional repair you can do this on your own with some basic knowledge of mountain bike parts. It will end up saving you money over the life of your bike.

Installing a mountain bike gear cassette is going to be a necessary task from time to time. It is important that you know how to do this yourself. It will allow you to better understand your bicycle and its inner workings.

• Shift the mountain bike chain to the smallest possible sprocket on your bike’s gear cassette. Push forward on the derailleur arm. This will allow you to gain the slack you need in the chain. Remove the chain and put it on the bracket on the bottom. Squeeze on your handlebar control for your brake pads. You can then unhook your brake cable from the top part of your brake arms.


• Turn down the quick release lever and lift the back seat of the bike up so that you can pull out the back wheel.


• Wrap the chain whip around the two bigger sprockets on your gear cassette. Slide the lock ring tool into the middle of the cassette. Adjust the wrench so that it fits into the lock ring tool nut. Turn the ring counterclockwise until you can push the handle.


• Remove the lock ring and then take the cassette off of your wheel hub. Line up the biggest spline up with the biggest notch on your new gear cassette. Slide it into place and put the spline lock ring tool back into place on the cassette as well. You can then put the adjustable wrench over your lock ring nut to tighten it. Spin your cassette around to make sure that it turns properly.