Extending Cassette life by replacing worn sprocket

[Davemtb]

I'm starting to get slipping on the highest gear 11t sprocket. Done 4300km (I wax my chain every 200-300km). Chain wear has just reached 0.75%, so the chain is ready to swap out, but I don't want to throw away another whole cassette when it's only the smallest sprocket that is worn out. The smallest two sprockets on the CS-HG50 / SLX HG81 (10-speed) cassette come off separately from the main cassette. It seems like Shimano want us to buy a whole new cassette when only 1 or 2 sprockets are worn, because you can't buy original 11t or 13t replacement sprockets (I haven't found any sources).
Has anyone tried the replacement sprockets available from China (via eBay)?

Cheers

 

[steve_sordy]

If you can get 11t and 13t sprockets from anywhere, then maybe they are worth a punt.

But you can buy a brand new 10-speed Shimano cassette 11-42 for less than £29 plus postage.

Shimano Deore CS-HG500-10 Cassette, Silver | Bikeinn

Buy Shimano Deore CS-HG500-10 Cassette - Silver, Cassettes from Bike parts with the best offers. Find bike deals in Bikeinn | Fast delivery

www.bikeinn.com

The risk you are taking is that the Chinese copies via eBay do not have the shifting ramps properly formed or even in the correct place. It's true that many bike components are made in China, but what is not known is what happens to the ones that are rejected on quality grounds. They may have been made for Shimano and have all the correct stamps and packaging etc. But are they Shimano rejects?

 

[Davemtb]

I'm going for the punt! Ordered a 11t sprocket. In Aust., the 11-46t 10sp cassette cost $70 (approx £38), and the sprocket about a 1/10 of that.
At my current mileage, I'm going through a cassette and chain every 6 months.
Apart from the $ saving, I think it's a total waste having to throw out a whole cassette knowing that only 1 or 2 sprockets are worn
I will report back on result.
cheers

 

[Gary]

because you can't buy original 11t or 13t replacement sprockets

You can buy them from any bike shop with an account with your countries Shimano distributor

 

[Gary]

CS-HG50 / SLX HG81

Fairly sure neither of those Shimano cassettes come in 10 speed 11-46

 

[Davemtb]

Fairly sure neither of those Shimano cassettes come in 10 speed 11-46

Sorry, you’re correct, they are 11-36

 

[Davemtb]

UPDATE: the low cost replacement 11t & 13t sprockets I put on a worn HG50 cassette (11t & 13t worn) working perfectly after a few 1000km.
From China, available on eBay.

Lucky I kept my old cassettes, now I can get a second life out of them.