Are all crown races largely the same?

[Monkeeee01]

Hi all,

QQ please?

If I’m swapping a pair of retro forks (say Rock Shox SIDs) with a pair of old Fox (both V-brake 100mm etc) from one bike to another and one bike has a Chris King headset and the other has a FSA (both standard 1/18th and pressed, threadless etc)

Both forks have crown races installed already, do I need to swap the crown races over or will they just work. They look the same (albeit the one that came with the Chris King might be Ti if the headset is Ti?)

I really don’t want to have to take both pairs of forks to my LBS to just swap the crown races (unless I really have too….)

Thanks

Gaz

(Pic for interest)

 

[Stressed]

It's easy enough to jiggle them off yourself- I've done it a few times with a screwdriver and some patience...

 

[kafer-k]

Personally I would swap them using the Stanley blade technique

 

[mk one]

Hi all,

QQ please?

If I’m swapping a pair of retro forks (say Rock Shox SIDs) with a pair of old Fox (both V-brake 100mm etc) from one bike to another and one bike has a Chris King headset and the other has a FSA (both standard 1/18th and pressed, threadless etc)

Both forks have crown races installed already, do I need to swap the crown races over or will they just work. They look the same (albeit the one that came with the Chris King might be Ti if the headset is Ti?)

I really don’t want to have to take both pairs of forks to my LBS to just swap the crown races (unless I really have too….)

Thanks

Gaz

(Pic for interest)

View attachment 893836

The crown race is part of the headset, so yes, best to swap.

 

[d8mok]

Some a very similiar or even identical.

However CK are quite different to most of them. I had a random brand headset which had the same crown race (can’t remember brand )

They aren’t hard to remove usually. I use a wide but sharp screwdriver and hammer.

 

[Monkeeee01]

Thanks all. I’ve got them off before but then installing them with f**king them is another matter

 

[d8mok]

Thanks all. I’ve got them off before but then installing them with f**king them is another matter

I use a vice. I put the jaws just a fraction wider than the steerer. Then slide the crown race into place , turn the forks upside down and put the steerer into the open vice so the top of the vice is against the crown race. I then use a soft mallet to tap the underside of the crown which presses the crown race on.

 

[Tootyred]

Bathroom waste pipe fits crown races. Slip a bit over the steer and tap them on.

 

[2manyoranges]

Crown race removal tools are not too expensive and are a good specialist tool to have if you don’t want to damage anything in any way when removing.

Pardon our interruption...

 

[bold stelvis]

done this a few times recently - stanley blade to slowly lever them off, then PVP pipe to knock 'em back on