Cannot reach the bearing adjustment nut on rear wheel I have a Mt. bike with Shimano STX RC components.  I cannot reach the nut and lock nut to adjust the bearing tension.  Any ideas how to make an adjustment so I can reach it?




Also, How do I tell if my rear sprockets need to be replaced.  Can anybody see it it needs to from the picture?
You could adjust the other end instead, so long as the cassette locknut is already tight against the cone (if it isn't, take the cassette off and do that first).

http://sheldonbrown.com/cone-adjustment.html:
"For cassette hubs, or conventional rear hubs that I want to adjust without removing the freewheel, I use a thin 15 mm wrench and the two 17's.

To loosen this type of hub, I usually do have to loosen the left locknut from its cone, loosen the cone, then re-tighten the locknut. To tighten it, the two 17's on the locknuts do the job quickly and easily."