While continuing my year+ recovery from a severely torn hamstring (yes, it was a mountain biking accident, and no it was not note or story worthy) I have been watching the rise of the eMTB, or electric bike, or ebike or whatever. Which has led to a lot of fine feelings and emotions about the issues there. And I have started, 3 or 4 times, to try to write something it. And I always get stuck and annoyed.
Enter our (mostly pickled) homies at Drunk Cyclist:
Thanks for the awesome post Danimal - you f*ing nailed it!
Yours,
Ham-Fisted
Sunday, June 25, 2017
SRAM XX1 Cassette Removal:
The Complete Fail
Despite the hopeful tone of my previous adventures with the SRAM XX1 cassette the future turned out to be significantly less than trouble free. After carefully installing the new cassette (thanks SRAM that was awesome!) using sterile procedures, grease, and a torque wrench the HFC had 3 fabulous seasons with it. Nominally, it spends its life on the back of the SB95:
It receives little winter use and so accumulates miles more slowly than the ROS9, which is a superior PNW winter daily driver.
Regardless, in the later part of last season it became clear that the cassette on the SB95 had become a tad overripe. Not surprising, given that this cassette had participated in stretching something like 8 to 10 chains past serviceable spec. (The HFC is a clydesdale who enjoys standing to climb. Hard on chains he is.) It was time for a new one, yet here it remains:
Why you ask? The fear! The HFC has learned that the removal of the XX1 cassette requires MORE care and preparation than has previously been revealed in these pages! In fact, it may not be possible without what many would say are extreme measures. And, predictably, the HFC has learned this The Hard Way.
The Hard Way
Not long after the HFC broke the axle in a Stans 3.3 hub he replaced the Stans wheel-set with a pair of OnyxRP hubs and Arc30 rims. And he followed all of the instructions for installing a brand new SRAM X11 cassette onto the OnyxRP hub (grease, torque wrench, etc)
Wow. This new wheel-set was a game changer. An instant engagement and totally silent hub + wider stiffer rims. And it appears to be bomb proof, and not just because it's already taken a year of hardtail smacking from the HFC.
I rode the living crap out of them for the next 9 months, jumping, drifting, railing and grind-grind-grinding in every type of PNW climate joy. The ROS9 is HFC's first choice for any ride under 2 hours and even for longer rides it whispers "Take me!" as he starts to prep the SB95. For the HFC, the ROS9 XL with the new wheel-set is something beyond the sum if its parts. Magic. Anyway, in September the Hoosier, the HFC's life long friend and fellow bikes are the best compadre from Indiana, arrived. The Hoosier arrives with a ROS9 (nice) adorned with the stock Stans 3.3 wheel set. (Can you see where this is going?) September is the Best month so the two friends got right to it with the riding until on day three of the trip the Hoosier's drivetrain starts to act up. Sure enough, another broken Stans 3.3 hub. No Shit. But no worries! The HFC can switch to the SB95 and loan the Hoosier his spiffy OnyxRP rear wheel. Just a matter of switching the cassette and rotor.
Knowing that SRAM X1 cassette removal is troubled territory, the HFC proceeds cautiously, keeping in mind everything he learned about this lovely but finicky part. After selecting the correct deep socket style cassette removal tool and inserting it fully into the cassette he locates the proper wrench for the cassette tool, addresses the 2nd to largest cog with the chain-whip and applies gentle pressure.
Nothing moves...
So a wee bit more pressure...
And nothing.
And some more... And just a bitCRACK.
Yeah.
That.
Every single tool engagement tooth on the center sleeve of the cassette has been sheared away.
At this point one might imagine that the cassette just fell apart, but no, it was not the case. The cassette is still held firmly in place by threads inside the (now hopelessly mangled) center sleeve.
For a period of time the HFC was all f--- this and f--- that. And having clearly done so, he finally wised up, grabbed the spare wheel set off the wall, dropped the Hoosier's cassette and rotor on to it and was off to the woods for more riding and camping and fun. After several more epic days they return to the Lair and examine the situation.
A plan emerges to recover the hub and wheel, as the cassette is now just in the way.
Emergency SRAM XX1 Cassette Removal Procedure
Tools Required
Giant DIY chain whip
Pipe wrench (yeah, old school)
Four inch angle grinder with abrasive cutting disk
Ear & Eye protection
Notes:
Before stepping up to the pipe wrench the HFC tried the maneuver with a strap wrench. No recommended.
Get rid of all those pesky cogs.
The HFC made 4 or 5 radial cuts across the web of steel that forms the 10 smallest cogs. To fully break it free the web of small steel connective tissue connecting the 14 tooth cog to the 16 tooth cog must also be cut with the angle grinder. Do This With Great Care. Once these cuts are completed the cog set can easily be removed:
Make a ridiculously big chain-whip.
The HFC started with a 2ft fir 2x2 and a dead chain. That lasted about 10 seconds. Falling back to the scrap heap he located a 3ft piece of 3/4" x 1 1/2" oak, which worked but just barely. It also important to have a nice long piece of chain as this allows for a full wrap on the cog which decreases the risk of it jumping a tooth.
Apply chain whip to the remaining large cog. Apply pipe wrench to the now exposed center sleeve.
Get on it:
Remove center sleeve and large cog.
Done!
The deed complete and the hub and wheel rescued from the claws of the XX1 cassette.
\
If you have to try this at home, be assured that you have the HFC's deepest mechanical and monetary sympathy. If you have to try this at work, well, hopefully you won't also be buying the new cassette.
Later,
HFC
No hubs and a single XX1 cassette were damaged in the making of this story.
