Conference noted::bicycle

    
    	The tabs on those plastic guards ALWAYS seem to break. Most folks
    I know take them off when they break and don't bother to replace them.
    Just make sure that your rear derailler low-gear stop is set correctly
    so that the chain can't fall off to the inside and wreck your spokes.
    You may need a special tool to tighten your cassette, but probably not;
    take the wheel off and see if the slop is really in your axle/bearings.
    If it is, you can usually tighten the cones up a bit without removing
    the cassette. Try making the adjustments on the non-drive side; hold
    the wheel/axle on the cassete side in an axle vise; loosen the locknut
    on the opposite side; adjust the cone-nut until it is just snug (not
    too tight-just enough so it doesn't wobble); hold the cone-nut in place
    while you tighten the locknut. Put it back on the bike and readjust
    your rear derailler to shift smoothly if necessary.
    
    Mike

    If the looseness is in the bearing assembly do what -.1 said.  If the
    freehub itself is loose you need a 10mm hex wrench to tighten it.  Pull
    out the axle and look into the freewheel side.  You'll see the 10mm hex
    (the axle assembly goes through it).  

    Thanks Mike, 
    
    I think it is the cassette that loose though because the wheel is not
    loose.
    
    Alan

    
    
    On my Deore Xt cassette , the smallest cog threads on to the 
    end of the hub. It gets tightened when you put the chain in that 
    smallest cog and pedal under load. Regular freewheels thread on to 
    the hub and get tightened when you pedal any gear under load. 
    In each case, normal pedalling action should tighten the 
    freewheel/cassette for you. Perhaps there is something else wrong? 
    To remove a cassette, you get two of those chain whip-thingies
    (I have no idea what they are called) and untighten the smallest
    cog with one while holding the cassette/freehub with the other. 
    For a regular freewheel, you buy a removal tool that fits the
    inside of the freewheel... and then you loosen it via a 
    big wrench or vice. 
    
    I don't have the plastic guards on any of my wheels, but this does
    require that the derailleur be adjusted properly so that it NEVER
    shifts into the spokes.
    
    
    doug
      

    
    
    
    Also... the replies previous to my .4 were referring to tightening
    the wheel bearings. Loose wheelbearings are generally indicated when
    there is some side to side play in the wheel when it is fastened
    in place in the bike. Other freewheel "weirdness" you may be
    encountering includes broken axles and bent hubs. The best thing to do 
    is to have someone in-the-know  (a bike shop or friend) look it over.
    
    
    doug
    

>    On my Deore Xt cassette , the smallest cog threads on to the 
>    end of the hub. It gets tightened when you put the chain in that 
>    smallest cog and pedal under load.

But not if it's Hyperglide. The whole cassette is held on by a retaining ring.
That ring may be loose. To tighten it you'll need either a regular Shimano
freewheel tool or a Hypercracker thingy.

Sounds to me like the whole wheel should be taken to a shop for some expert
attention.


Rod

    re: -.4
    
    Those "chain-whip thingies" are called "chain whips".
    
    ;-)
    
    	/Harry

    	Alan,
    
    	I'd recommend replacing the spoke guard.
    
    	Of course, I didn't, I trashed it, removed the Suntour cassette
    	and threw the spoke guard out.
    
    	But if a stick gets jammed into my derailleur, forcing it into
    	the spokes, I'll be jigging the chain for a single-speed ride
    	home.
    
    	I just haven't found a "cool" replacement yet, but I plan on
    	replacing the guard. I'm tired of replacing spokes & derailleurs.
    
    							Good ruck...