Headset tools. What to avoid? Whats recommended?

[Janners BJJ Clunker Rider]

So the as the title says. For servicing my stuff at home over the years I have just stripped, cleaned, regreased and go again. But I may be getting to the end of this process. So with the possibilty of a few bikes needing new headsets I thought I might look at the right tools for the job. I am not a workshop, purely home maintenance of my own bikes. Prices vary from very cheap to eye watering. Hence any input / advice / suggestions most welcome.

 

[markoc]

To be honest, I've got by with the cheaper end of the spectrum. You'll need a removal tool, which is essentially a metal drift with a split end to splay out and push the cup - and a universal persuading tool (hammer) to gentle tap (smack) it. The one I have cost about £15 and works fine. How technical can it be?

Headset presses are a different matter, as the more expensive ones are probably more capable. I got mine off amazon for peanuts and to be honest wish I'd spent some more. It's functional but cheaply made and isn't great. That said, it's a huge step up from lining the cup up, putting a bit of wood across and giving it a gentle whack - so horses for courses.

Oh, and when using a removal tool, pop a zip tie (or a number of them linked) through the head tube and headset so when it is freed it doesn't shoot across the garage/workshop/kitchen/garden at an alarming speed.

So for me; cheap removal tool - go "middly" in terms of market and spend your money on the press.

 

[Janners BJJ Clunker Rider]

@markoc
"Oh, and when using a removal tool, pop a zip tie (or a number of them linked) through the head tube and headset so when it is freed it doesn't shoot across the garage/workshop/kitchen/garden at an alarming speed."

Noted!

 

[bold stelvis]

you can pick up a cheapy removal tool from amazon for less than 10 quid - I don't see any good reason to spend more on one TBH, they are dead simple.

I also got a cheap chinese HS press from amazon for about 15 quid which does the job fine, though cos its not as precise or massive as the MUCH more expensive park tools sort of level you have to be a bit more careful with it in terms of making sure the cups go in straight - but it works fine if you baby it

 

[Gtpulse]

Threaded bar and two large washers with nuts either end makes for a cheap improvised headset press. Certainly better than lumps of wood.

Maybe three levels of tools here
1). Improvised
2). DIY/cheaper brand tools like Ice toolz etc
3). More expensive brands like Park

When I first started out all my headset stuff was improvised
Cup remover - piece of metal pipe with slots cut so it flared out and I could hammer from the other end to remove the cup, before that I used a socket extension bar with the largest socket I could fit through there!
Cup installer - threaded bar with large washers and nuts either end. Even now my installation is just a posh version of this
Crown race installer - length of white plastic waste pipe, one end with a cap on it

 

[klunkrider]

I have a Cyclus (not Cyclo!) headset press and have no complaints of it.

The only thing the Park one at work has over it is the qr button on the bottom bit which is nice but not ‘5x the price’ nice.

For removal I have a Park bit I fail to see how you’d really be able to cock up making one so a cheapo will likely be just as good.

 

[ishaw]

I too have a cyclus headset press. Great bit of kit, strong, weighty and precise. I bought it before I owned bikes with bigger headset cups, so to get some larger cups on the cheap, I bought a whole new tool.

This one. Seems well made and looks nice too. Haven't used it though, as all my pressing was done before it arrived, but it will be soon, well the cups anyway.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/36427190...eEG02BlRb2&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

As for removal tool, as said already, it's just a bit of flared metal with an end to hit with a hammer, not much to go wrong so no need to spend big.

Another tool worth getting imo is a crown race remover. Yes, you can get by with a screwdriver and hammer, but you risk marking the fork race. I bought one recently as while I had a home brew bladed tool from my granddad's tool kit which did the trick a number of times (blade in and under race, prise slowly away from crown and work around until a larger tool, screwdriver or whatever can be used to finish the job), I thought what the hell and bought a proper tool. Only useful for non-split races of course.

 

[eshew]

Freeze the headset for 30-60 minutes prior to install and there's a great chance it'll go in straight every time. Same rule applies to bearings.

 

[Tootyred]

Copper drift for removing...ie scrap yard 2' length of copper bar.

Threaded rod and huge washers for putting in. Almost..but not quite..got roundvto welding the washers together last year...

Both have done a few decades of service now...

 

[novocaine]

brass drift for removal, similar to Tootyred's copper one.
Record vice for installation with a pair of soft jaws.

also have a length of lead pipe for installing crown races.

ok, the vice might be nearly the price of a park headset press, but not quite.

when I worked in the shop we had all the toys, wouldn't say it was any better than how I do it home.