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Any consensus buying used cassettes?

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Any consensus buying used cassettes?

Old 02-27-21, 09:15 AM
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bark_eater 
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Any consensus buying used cassettes?

Since the production of 7 speed HG50 cassettes has ceased, I've been looking at used cassettes on Ebay. I cant realy get a gauge of how much wear cogs have, unless the cassette is obviously thrashed, so it feels like luck of the draw.

I do know that anytime someone ponders any sort of drive train change the chorus of admondations to absolutely use a new chain every time rolls out, which Lord knows, I would certainly do to protect my chainrings..

So what I was wondering was if there was any opinion as to the sanity of seeking out used consumables in the form of cassettes?

And what am going to do with all the less than 24% wear chains that i've been swore off from ever using again?

P.S. Exhibit A:

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Old 02-27-21, 09:51 AM
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I've bought a few used ones without any issues. Most of the time I'm cutting cassettes apart and building what I want. I save my cogs and spacers. First position cogs are generally seven and eight speed specific. On paper nine speed cogs are thinner but in practice they measure the same as seven and eight speed. Just use the appropriate spacer. That's been my work around for the lack of seven and eight speed cassettes.
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Old 02-27-21, 10:47 AM
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SRAM still make 7 and 8 sp cassettes. I get a PG 850 8 sp cassette, break it down and make it a 7sp. Sometimes, I would get two cassettes and make custom ratios that start with 12t this way.

850's cogs (L) are a bit lighter than Shimano's as well,but Shimano's lock rings are nicer.
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Old 02-27-21, 11:56 AM
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Why the insistence on HG50? Shimano still makes other 7 speed cassettes. So does Sunrace.
it’s very hard to judge the condition of a used cassette by sight.
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Old 02-27-21, 12:15 PM
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Originally Posted by icemilkcoffee
Why the insistence on HG50? Shimano still makes other 7 speed cassettes. So does Sunrace.
it’s very hard to judge the condition of a used cassette by sight.
I'm looking for combinations that aren't offered any more. I can pretty much get there with 8 speed parts but at the minimum I am buying 2 cassettes to get what I'm after.

I'm actually setting setting up a bike to run "8 of 9 on 7", but besides that the rest of my "modern" bikes run 7 speed cassettes. And a man can not live on 11-28t alone.

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Old 02-27-21, 12:32 PM
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...currently, at least, you can still buy brand new 7 speed cassettes made by Sunrace that are other than 11-28. they work well, and appear to be of good quality in manufacturing. I have access to a whole bin full of used cassettes over at the co-op that are cheaply available to me. I've never been tempted, even though I know that a lot of them are probably usable. It is true the smaller cogs are the ones that wear fastes, but a Sunrace cassette in 7 is still cheap enough that I don't want to mess with them.

At this point in time, close ratio freewheels with a big cog smaller than 28 have become increasingly pricey, so I am forced to rework my own freewheels. I hate it.
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Old 02-27-21, 12:52 PM
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Used cassettes, sight unseen, probably are a risk. But if you can examine them closely, or even better with a Rohloff cassette checker, many of the individual cogs might be OK.

FWIW, in building up custom 8-speed cassettes from loose cogs with 7-speed/Campagnolo spacers for Sachs New Success Ergo brifters, I’ve used 9-speed outer (smallest) and occasionally second cogs to reduce the cassette overall width. Shifting seems unaffected.

I mix Shimano, SRAM and Miche cogs for those cassettes. Only times it matters is for the cogs with single tooth jumps, which always work better if they are “matched”.
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Old 02-27-21, 01:23 PM
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Originally Posted by bark_eater
a man can not live on 11-28t alone.
Point taken. Sunlite makes a 11-23t:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/373467264357
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Old 02-27-21, 01:27 PM
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Originally Posted by bark_eater
I'm looking for combinations that aren't offered any more. I can pretty much get there with 8 speed parts but at the minimum I am buying 2 cassettes to get what I'm after.

I'm actually setting setting up a bike to run "8 of 9 on 7", but besides that the rest of my "modern" bikes run 7 speed cassettes. And a man can not live on 11-28t alone.
Someone started a thread recently along this line -- that cassette mix and match is akin to freewheel cog boards of the past, shifting the narrative impulse. I would guess now is the time to stock up raw materials in the form of cassettes with useful cogs, since the makers keep trying to shove more and more cogs back there. FWIW, I am running a SRAM 12-32 7s on one bike, and I really like it, but I'm not currently riding enough to be closely attuned to specific ratios. If I feel out of sorts, I tend to blame it on my legs for now.
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Old 02-27-21, 07:18 PM
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For what I'm trying to do the 13t first position cog is the hold up. I cant find any single cogs and I'll have to buy an entire 8 speed cassette to to get the one cog I want.
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Old 02-27-21, 09:03 PM
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SunRace chromed cassettes and freewheels have performed very well for me on a few bikes over the past few years with older Suntour and newer Shimano components. Great values.

Can't say the same for their lower end blue steel freewheels, which may not be up to the same standard. But the chromed and zinc covered cassettes and freewheels have been fine.
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Old 02-27-21, 09:13 PM
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i wish more kids had been encouraged to race so that junior cassettes with 13t and 14t top cogs in 7/8/9 speeds existed more.
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Old 02-27-21, 09:51 PM
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Originally Posted by bark_eater
Since the production of 7 speed HG50 cassettes has ceased, I've been looking at used cassettes on Ebay. I cant realy get a gauge of how much wear cogs have, unless the cassette is obviously thrashed, so it feels like luck of the draw.

I do know that anytime someone ponders any sort of drive train change the chorus of admondations to absolutely use a new chain every time rolls out, which Lord knows, I would certainly do to protect my chainrings..

So what I was wondering was if there was any opinion as to the sanity of seeking out used consumables in the form of cassettes?

And what am going to do with all the less than 24% wear chains that i've been swore off from ever using again?

P.S. Exhibit A:
I'm looking for The Weavers.

But as far as bike cassettes, I've had no problem with Campy's.
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Old 02-28-21, 02:02 AM
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Originally Posted by bark_eater
For what I'm trying to do the 13t first position cog is the hold up. I cant find any single cogs and I'll have to buy an entire 8 speed cassette to to get the one cog I want.
I might have one of those single 13T outer cogs that I could give up. Send me a reminder PM if you haven’t received a PM from me in the next few days.
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Old 02-28-21, 06:53 AM
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Originally Posted by Dfrost
I might have one of those single 13T outer cogs that I could give up. Send me a reminder PM if you haven’t received a PM from me in the next few days.
Thanks!
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Old 02-28-21, 07:23 AM
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I agree with @bark_eater, I never use an 11T and rarely a 12T. 13T cassette sprockets should be more available. Let's all write our US Senators and demand they add this provision into the next COVID-19 stimulus package!

The biggest challenge in purchasing a used cassette or freewheel is that the primary wear is on the underside of the sprocket, which can only be examined on the back largest one or if the sprockets are disassembled and individually photographed.
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Old 02-28-21, 08:40 AM
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Originally Posted by icemilkcoffee
Point taken. Sunlite makes a 11-23t:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/373467264357
Ah, that did not come up when I was goggling for a 7 sp cassette yesterday. I wonder how good the Sunlite ones are? Thanks!
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Old 02-28-21, 09:09 AM
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The lack of cassettes starting with 13 & 14 is what led me to where I am. I've been able to get enough to build what I need. The HG50 13 23 eight speed cassette was readily available a few years ago and made for a good starting place. If you have first position cogs and spacers the 14 25 nine speed is a source of cogs.

I'm still trying to figure out what good an 11t is.
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Old 02-28-21, 09:21 AM
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Originally Posted by pastorbobnlnh
I agree with @bark_eater, I never use an 11T and rarely a 12T. 13T cassette sprockets should be more available. Let's all write our US Senators and demand they add this provision into the next COVID-19 stimulus package!
.
Well with this new world there are signs of paradigm shifts afoot. It looks like Shimano actually brought back their silver Deore RD-M591. A small shift, but I have never heard of Shimano bringing a discontinued item back into production.
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Old 02-28-21, 09:35 AM
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Originally Posted by Road Fan
I'm looking for The Weavers.

But as far as bike cassettes, I've had no problem with Campy's.
That took me a minute....

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Old 02-28-21, 11:16 AM
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Maxell hold up a little better than TDK, imo.
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Old 02-28-21, 11:17 AM
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You'd think there would be a "sprocket/chainring wear gauge" to compliment a chain wear gauge.
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Old 02-28-21, 12:59 PM
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They exist. Rohloff is the first that comes to mind but there a bunch of different ones. I plan on getting one when I dive into the pile of junk free wheels I've got.

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Old 02-28-21, 01:51 PM
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Originally Posted by bark_eater
They exist. Rohloff is the first that comes to mind but there a bunch of different ones. I plan on getting one when I dive into the pile of junk free wheels I've got.
Cool; I'll drive over when you do, and get all my cogs checked. If Rohloff perhaps a $950 tool? No prices on their website.

But at least they exist...
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Old 02-28-21, 02:59 PM
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$30. $20 if it doesn't say Rohloff. Just keep on going till the road turns to dirt, its the driveway under the big Willow Oak...
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