What's this tool called?

Michael Tordoff asked:

Quoted message said:

I've been told there is a tool for removing the lockring from Shimano rear cassettes that works by
threading the tool onto the rear axle, then remounting the wheel so that the tool pushes against
the chainstay. The lockring is then removed by turning the wheel. This seems great for touring
because a chain whip and wrench are not required. Does anybody know the name and/or model number
of this gadget?

That is the Pamir Hypercracker. Alas, they've gone extinct, and Pamir is out of business. I keep
lobbying Park to make a version of this very handy tool, but so far without success.

Good luck finding one!

Sheldon "Hypercracker" Brown +---------------------------------------------------------------------+
| The most preposterous notion that H. Sapiens has ever dreamed up | is that the Lord God of
| Creation, Shaper and Ruler of all the | Universes, wants the saccharine adoration of His
| creatures, can | be swayed by their prayers, and becomes petulant if He does not | receive this
| flattery. Yet this absurd fantasy, without a shred | of evidence to bolster it, pays all the
| expenses of the oldest, | largest, and least productive industry in all history. | --Robert A.
| Heinlein |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------+ Harris Cyclery, West Newton,
Massachusetts Phone 617-244-9772 FAX 617-244-1041 harriscyclery.comharriscyclery.comOpen ↗ Hard-to-find parts
shipped Worldwide captainbike.comcaptainbike.comOpen ↗ sheldonbrown.comsheldonbrown.comOpen ↗

Look in m-gineering.nlindexg.htmOpen ↗ {hard to find).

Carlos

Sheldon Brown said:

Michael Tordoff asked:

Quoted message said:

I've been told there is a tool for removing the lockring from Shimano rear cassettes that works
by threading the tool onto the rear axle, then remounting the wheel so that the tool pushes
against the chainstay. The lockring is then removed by turning the wheel. This seems great for
touring because a chain whip and wrench are not required. Does anybody know the name and/or model
number of this gadget?

That is the Pamir Hypercracker. Alas, they've gone extinct, and Pamir is out of business. I keep
lobbying Park to make a version of this very handy tool, but so far without success.

Good luck finding one!

Sheldon "Hypercracker" Brown
+---------------------------------------------------------------------+
| The most preposterous notion that H. Sapiens has ever dreamed up | is that the Lord God of
| Creation, Shaper and Ruler of all the | Universes, wants the saccharine adoration of His
| creatures, can | be swayed by their prayers, and becomes petulant if He does not | receive
| this flattery. Yet this absurd fantasy, without a shred | of evidence to bolster it, pays all
| the expenses of the oldest, | largest, and least productive industry in all history. |
| --Robert A. Heinlein |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------+ Harris Cyclery, West
Newton, Massachusetts Phone 617-244-9772 FAX 617-244-1041 harriscyclery.comharriscyclery.comOpen ↗ Hard-to-find
parts shipped Worldwide captainbike.comcaptainbike.comOpen ↗ sheldonbrown.comsheldonbrown.comOpen ↗

Michael Tordoff <[email hidden]> wrote:
: I've been told there is a tool for removing the lockring from Shimano rear cassettes that works by
: threading the tool onto the rear axle, then remounting the wheel so that the tool pushes against
: the chainstay. The lockring is then removed by turning the wheel. This seems great for touring
: because a chain whip and wrench are not required. Does anybody know the name and/or model number
: of this gadget?

The device you seek is called a 'cassette cracker'. A similar tool that you need for Shimano
hyperglide cassettes is called a 'hyper-cracker'.

I have a cassette-cracker that I picked up in a bargain bin at a bike shop. The only time I tried to
use it in the way it is designed to be used, the rear axle bent and had to be replaced. If you use
solid axles this shouldn't be a problem.

If you can find one, it would be very prudent to make sure that the device worked in the way you
hoped before hitting the road.

The only way I've consistently removed lockrings is by using two chainwhips.

Hope this helps, cheerz, Lynzz

Sheldon Brown said:

That is the Pamir Hypercracker. Alas, they've gone extinct, and Pamir is out of business. I keep
lobbying Park to make a version of this very handy tool, but so far without success.

Marten Gerritsen, who sometimes posts here and on the Moulton Topica list, used to sell a
similar tool. According to his website, a new, lighter, cheaper, and better-distributed version
is on the way:

m-gineering.nlshopg.htmOpen ↗

Here's somebody else's ugly home-made version:

mark-ju.nethypercracker.htmOpen ↗

James Thomson

Michael Tordoff <[email hidden]> wrote:
: I've been told there is a tool for removing the lockring from Shimano rear cassettes that works by
: threading the tool onto the rear axle, then remounting the wheel so that the tool pushes against
: the chainstay. The lockring is then removed by turning the wheel. This seems great for touring
: because a chain whip and wrench are not required. Does anybody know the name and/or model number
: of this gadget?

If you have no luck at all finding a cassette cracker I'll sell you mine at a very reasonable price.
Postage will be from Australia. Let me know.

Cheerz, Lynzz

"Michael Tordoff" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

I've been told there is a tool for removing the lockring from Shimano rear cassettes that works by
threading the tool onto the rear axle, then remounting the wheel so that the tool pushes against
the chainstay. The lockring is then removed by turning the wheel. This seems great for touring
because a chain whip and wrench are not required. Does anybody know the name and/or model number
of this gadget?

Stein now makes a tool that looks to be even better than the old Pamir Hypercracker:

biketoolsetc.comindex.cgiOpen ↗
d%20Freewheel&tc=Cassette%20Cracker&item_id=SN-HC

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

I've been told there is a tool for removing the lockring from Shimano rear cassettes that works by
threading the tool onto the rear axle, then remounting the wheel so that the tool pushes against
the chainstay. The lockring is then removed by turning the wheel. This seems great for touring
because a chain whip and wrench are not required. Does anybody know the name and/or model number of
this gadget?

IIRC pamir hyper cracker.
-----------------
Alex __O _-\<,_ (_)/ (_)

"Michael Tordoff" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

I've been told there is a tool for removing the lockring from Shimano rear cassettes that works by
threading the tool onto the rear axle, then remounting the wheel so that the tool pushes against
the chainstay. The lockring is then removed by turning the wheel. This seems great for touring
because a chain whip and wrench are not required. Does anybody know the name and/or model number
of this gadget?

The Stein Mini Cassette cracker. Bike Tools Etc. had them, out of stock at the moment. Link is:
tinyurl.comjxsdOpen ↗ .

Sheldon, you should get some for Harris, too ;-)

- rick

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

The Stein Mini Cassette cracker. Bike Tools Etc. had them, out of stock at the moment. Link is:
tinyurl.comjxsdOpen ↗ .

This is such a simple design, I don't see why no one else makes these.
-----------------
Alex __O _-\<,_ (_)/ (_)

Quoted message said:

That is the Pamir Hypercracker. Alas, they've gone extinct, and Pamir is out of business. I keep
lobbying Park to make a version of this very handy tool, but so far without success.

Quoted message said:

Good luck finding one!

Quoted message said:

Sheldon "Hypercracker" Brown

One of the main reasons I still hang on to my older UniGlide cassete. I can remove the cogs with no
tools whatsoever!

May you have the wind at your back. And a really low gear for the hills! Chris

Chris'Z Corner "The Website for the Common Bicyclist": geocities.comczcornerOpen ↗

Michael Tordoff <[email hidden]> wrote:
: I've been told there is a tool for removing the lockring from Shimano rear cassettes that works by
: threading the tool onto the rear axle, then remounting the wheel so that the tool pushes against
: the chainstay. The lockring is then removed by turning the wheel. This seems great for touring
: because a chain whip and wrench are not required. Does anybody know the name and/or model number
: of this gadget?

: Thanks

: Mike Tordoff Philadelphia

There is no need to crank the lockring on so tight. Tighten it lightly on tour so you can remove it
without the chain whip. All you would need is the little lockring removal tool.

--------------------------------
Bob Masse' [email hidden]
--------------------------------

[email hidden] wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

There is no need to crank the lockring on so tight. Tighten it lightly on tour so you can remove
it without the chain whip. All you would need is the little lockring removal tool.

There is a fine line here; too loose and the lockring does come loose, and then problems arise.

IMO it is much better to have the lockring adequately tight and then carry something like this new
Stein cassette cracker; chain whip is not necessary, and no risk of the lockring coming off. Best of
all worlds.

- rick

Rick Warner <[email hidden]> wrote:
: [email hidden] wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

:>
:> There is no need to crank the lockring on so tight. Tighten it lightly on tour so you can remove
:> it without the chain whip. All you would need is the little lockring removal tool.
:>

: There is a fine line here; too loose and the lockring does come loose, and then problems arise.

I don't see how it would be possible for the lockring to come loose. The faces of both surfaces have
little notches to prevent this.

Finger tight is fine.

--------------------------------
Bob Masse' [email hidden]
--------------------------------

15 Aug 2003 said:

Rick Warner <[email hidden]> wrote:
: [email hidden] wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

:>
:> There is no need to crank the lockring on so tight. Tighten it lightly on tour so you can
:> remove it without the chain whip. All you would need is the little lockring removal tool.
:>

: There is a fine line here; too loose and the lockring does come loose, and then problems arise.

I don't see how it would be possible for the lockring to come loose. The faces of both surfaces
have little notches to prevent this.

Finger tight is fine.

I had one come loose from finger tight. It was an 9 speed Ultegra cassette and it didn't work well
when the lockring came off. Hyper Crackers work well, are available again, and are cheap. Get one
and use it to tighten the lockring as well as loosen it.

Mark

[email hidden] wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Rick Warner <[email hidden]> wrote:
: [email hidden] wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

:>
:> There is no need to crank the lockring on so tight. Tighten it lightly on tour so you can
:> remove it without the chain whip. All you would need is the little lockring removal tool.
:>

: There is a fine line here; too loose and the lockring does come loose, and then problems arise.

I don't see how it would be possible for the lockring to come loose. The faces of both surfaces
have little notches to prevent this.

Finger tight is fine.

Believe me, they come loose. Seen two riders with this issue so far this year. And there was areport
on a mail list to which I subscribe (think it was tandem@hobbes list) that someone had experienced
this same problem. If the lockring is not tight enough it will work loose. You make theoretical
assumptions, I am talking real world experience.

- rick reported the same

"Rick Warner" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

[email hidden] wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Rick Warner <[email hidden]> wrote:
: [email hidden] wrote in message

news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

:>
:> There is no need to crank the lockring on so tight. Tighten it

lightly

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

:> on tour so you can remove it without the chain whip. All you would

need is

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

:> the little lockring removal tool.
:>

: There is a fine line here; too loose and the lockring does come loose,

and

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

: then problems arise.

I don't see how it would be possible for the lockring to come loose. The faces of both surfaces
have little notches to prevent this.

Finger tight is fine.

Believe me, they come loose. Seen two riders with this issue so far this year. And there was
areport on a mail list to which I subscribe (think it was tandem@hobbes list) that someone had
experienced this same problem. If the lockring is not tight enough it will work loose. You make
theoretical assumptions, I am talking real world experience.

FWIW, a rider in our group had his lockring come loose near the end of our "Tour de Palomar"
(road bikes).

Bill "then there's me, the OVER-tightener" S.

Rick Warner <[email hidden]> wrote:
: [email hidden] wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...
:> Rick Warner <[email hidden]> wrote:
:> : [email hidden] wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...
:>
:> :>
:> :> There is no need to crank the lockring on so tight. Tighten it lightly on tour so you can
:> :> remove it without the chain whip. All you would need is the little lockring removal tool.
:> :>
:>
:> : There is a fine line here; too loose and the lockring does come loose, and then problems arise.
:>
:> I don't see how it would be possible for the lockring to come loose. The faces of both surfaces
:> have little notches to prevent this.
:>
:> Finger tight is fine.
:>

: Believe me, they come loose. Seen two riders with this issue so far this year. And there was
: areport on a mail list to which I subscribe (think it was tandem@hobbes list) that someone had
: experienced this same problem. If the lockring is not tight enough it will work loose. You make
: theoretical assumptions, I am talking real world experience.

: - rick reported the same

I guess I have stronger hands than those the cyclists. I have not experienced this problem with my
lockring coming loose after tightening by hand.

I would suggest if you have weak hands, then use a wrench to tighten.

--------------------------------
Bob Masse' [email hidden]
--------------------------------