I hate chain whips...

[NHAero]

Looking at my Park chain whip, it has pins with nuts holding the chain bits on. It seems as though I could swap out the chains with narrower 11 speed bits to fit my cassettes better (?)

[Veloo]

I'm not clear either on how it's not working out for you.

I usually put the whip on the biggest cog and then use the lockring remover.

Is the whip slipping on you?

Only thing I hate about the whip is that it gets greasy but no issues otherwise.

Have considered the pliers style but just too cheap to replace a tool that works fine.

[charliedid]

I don't love them either but I learned to slow down and set everything right. No hurry.

Used all those mentioned in shops but at home I have Pedro's Pro with the little spring loaded hook. If I was a paid mechanic I'd care more.

And do not over torque.

[marciero]

Originally Posted by hokoman

For $17 at the local decathlon store. Works well... I was a little skeptical, but has spacing for 5 different sizes. 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14.

What brand is that? Seems to be about the most universal fitting of these type tools.

[hokoman]

Originally Posted by marciero

What brand is that? Seems to be about the most universal fitting of these type tools.

It is the decathlon brand, that I have also used as a hammer. Hahahah. Shimano pedal for scale.

[bshell]

Also confused about possible injury when the direction of force necessary is not directed toward any teeth. Dig the simplicity of a chain whip.

[gravelreformist]

Hmm. I have changed literally thousands of cassettes in my days, and I can't say I've ever had a problem with a standard chain whip assuming that your lock ring tool fits snugly. But my problems have only ever been with that side of the equation, not with the whips themselves.

[benb]

I use the park whip along with one of their lock ring tools that has a huge nut. I then bought the socket that fits over the lock ring tool and use it with a big bar for removal and my large torque wrench for tightening.

For a lock ring at 45Nm this requires almost no force due to the leverage of the tools.

[bigbill]

I have two chain whips, one for track pitch and the other for my road bikes. I've have hurt myself doing stupid **** while working on bikes, but the chain whip was never at fault. The track is a Wheels Manufacturing and the road/mtb is a Park model. I use a cassette tool and a socket with breaker bar. It's not that much effort. XDR is probably the easiest.

[54ny77]

I have a Park whip and always use a long beam torque wrench (old Craftsman 3/8) with a big fat socket and socket-style cassette lockring removal tool (have a couple different versions). Never a problem with that. Then again, I am only working on 10 and 11 speed, so if you're skinnier than that (12 spd), maybe today's chain whips are too big of a chain.

[unterhausen]

I have a chain whip I bought in the '70s, so it has 1/8" chain on it. Never had any problems with it on any cassette. I usually get it seated and hold on to a couple of spokes to stabilize it. I have used the pedro's pliers. They are better in that they require a little less coordination.

[C40_guy]

Love the Stein tool. Saw it mentioned in a thread a couple of months ago. If I didn't know it existed, I'd run out and buy the Park tool. I too hate the whip (ahem!)

[Seramount]

I made a Rube Goldberg thing to remove cassettes...vice grips, length of old chain, scrap 2x4 lumber...works, but not very 'elegant' and I sorta dread using it so don't remove the cogs as often as I'd like for cleaning.

after reading this thread, decided to go ahead and get a Pedro's, 'cause nice tools are nice.

[weisan]

muscle memory?

over the years as I maintained my bikes there are so many tasks I can remember difficult to perform or met with some challenges at the beginning and then over time maybe found a better or more efficient way to do it I dunno, somehow they become "easier" or don't even have to think about it....this is one of them.

I still hate removing bottom brackets.

[JMT3]

Sometimes our tools teach us something. Cheap chain whips no. Having a poor quality lockring tool no. Lost some skin off my knuckles yes, wear gloves when removing lockring yes. Would you ride without eye protection? No!