Bike Shop Repair Balls Up - Some Advice Please.

[Maximus Decimus Meridius]

I had a new chain and cassette fitted this week by a local, well respected cycle repairer and it appears to have gone horribly wrong.

Although the bike now shifts gears well it exhibits a creaking noise from the cassette under load. The cassette is loose (1 mm of movement) and the bike has occasionally slipped a gear. The 2 smallest cogs are out of true and appear to wobble which can be seen if back-pedaling. The cassette lock-ring is also squiff - not by much but you can see it.

My suspicion is that the mechanic has cross-threaded the lock-ring and this has caused the sprockets not to seat properly, causing the wobble and other issues.

One thing I don't quite understand is that the rear wheel is loose/ rattly, just like if your cones are loose, which they are not.
Can anyone explain why the wheel issue (rattly/ movement) is a symptom of a badly fitted cassette.
?

Also, if this is a cross-threading issue is it likely to have damaged the freehub as well as the cassette/ lock-ring.

And yes, before anyone suggests it I'll be investing in some more tools. I'm quite certain I can do a better job than the so-called "professionals" if I try.

Thanks in advance.

[Meeten-5dulx]

or go back to them and ask them to rectify?

prob best to give them (well respected you say) an opportunity to rectify.....

[Maximus Decimus Meridius]

Meeten-5dulx said:

or go back to them and ask them to rectify?

prob best to give them (well respected you say) an opportunity to rectify.....

Yes, I am going to do that. The mechanic is (or at least seems to be) a decent sort.
I just don't want to be fobbed off. I think this is a cross threading issue but I'm not certain how that would cause a loose/ rattly wheel.
Also, if he has damaged parts then he can pay to make the bike good again - hence the question about what is likely to be damaged

[Tom4398cc]

It could be as simple as a missing or wrong size spacer between the back of the cassette and the hub. Hopefully a quick and easy fix.

Of course the real answer is to avoid problems like this by riding a singlespeed!!!

[Maximus Decimus Meridius]

Tom4398cc said:

It could be as simple as a missing or wrong size spacer between the back of the cassette and the hub. Hopefully a quick and easy fix.

Of course the real answer is to avoid problems like this by riding a singlespeed!!!

Thanks Tom. 9 speed cassette, no spacer.
Certain it's a cross threaded lock-ring causing the issues

[frisbee]

I think a 9 speed cassette needs a 1.85mm spacer on an 11 speed hub.

It should be well greased as well.