Swapped the rear cassette today. Oh the fun.
All the gurus said it was relatively easy, and after watching some online videos, I agreed.
Got my Park lockring remover and chain whip out, and off I went. Well, the lockring remover wouldnt slide into the lockring on the cassette. I tried different angles, I put some chain oil on it hoping it would slide on easier. Nothing. I watched another video, I tried again. It wouldn't go in. I had a good look at the rear cassette. This is what I saw.
No wonder. It was off centre. Ah, this was when the fun started. I thought I would loosen the axle nuts off a bit. Undid them a turn, and it was the same, still off centre. Another turn, still out of whack. Ah bugger it, away I went with the shifter. Next thing I know the axle dropped out and I heard this ting ting ting noise. What the hell. I looked down to see ball bearings rolling around in the sawdust on the garage floor. Ok, so my rear hubs aren't sealed bearings. Good to know.
It has been a few hours of swearing and carrying on, and with out cone spanners I am slightly stuffed, as it looks like I might have wound the cones too far in on one side when I did it all back up and I can't undo them with out a cone spanner.
The new cassette is on, now, but when the wheel is on, the disc brake rubs against the pad on one side. Feck it! Ah well, lesson learnt. Off to the LBS on Monday.
As you can see in the photo above, that is when the new cassette is on, and unless you hold it when tightening, it goes out of whack. I suspect a slightly bent axle. I don't know enough to be sure, but the LBS will be able to help I hope.
It is persisting down here, so I am not missing out.