Do I need the plastic chain guard?

jsull14 said:

I just replaced my first rear wheel (I got a new set of Neuvations) and I'm having trouble mounting the cassette. The plastic thing (I think it's called a chain stop) is not going on straight and is making the cassette wobble when I spin the wheel. But I just took the plastic guard off and the cassette is spinning true.

Do I even need that plastic thing?

Thanks

Nope. You don't need it. No one needs it. That plastic thing--"dork disk"--is the definition of useless piece of kack.

Gee, I find it strange that the chain guard would make your cassett wobble. This certainly will not happen if the cassett is propeerly mounted. As far as whether the chain guard is needed or not, that is a matter of opinion. If you feel confident that you will always have your derailer properly adjusted and will never throw the chain beween the cogs of the cassett and the spokes, well you don't need it. I used to always remove mine until one time when I threw the chain and chewed up all of the spokes on my rear wheel. Now I always keep one on though I have not since thrown the chain onto the inside of the cassett. Maybe you should keep it until you have more experience.

As long as the low limit screw is adjusted properly, there is no need for the plastic spoke guard. The low limit screw when adjusted properly lines up the jockey pulley (the top pulley) with the low cog (the one close to the spokes) and keeps any shifter action from going past that point. Besides, they make excellent frisbees!

Thanks for the replies. The cassette area looks 10 times better without the disc. I went for my first ride yesterday without it and must say I was a little nervous as I tapped my shifter to see if it would go past the ring. But the lever did not move, which is good.

you already got your answer but the real use for the plastic thing is to protect any dirt or something like that from getting to the cassette when the bike is on display at a store
it is completley useless

ironcobraptw said:

you already got your answer but the real use for the plastic thing is to protect any dirt or something like that from getting to the cassette when the bike is on display at a store
it is completley useless

You are way off the target. These discs are the very original AERO WHEELS!!! :p

I removed mine, wrapped it and gave it to the sister-in-laws kids for Xmas. Told them they were frisbees. :p

Friends don't let friends use dork discs.

[IMG]/img/vbsmilies/smilies/ROTF.gif[/IMG]Friends don't let friends use dork discs.

And that was the conclusion in 2006.

I was told the dork disk was to stop the annoying whistle of the wind going threw the cassette when riding in a side wind !! [IMG]/img/vbsmilies/smilies/ROTF.gif[/IMG] i better take mine off !!!