Headset tools. What to avoid? Whats recommended?

[Janners BJJ Clunker Rider]

Chees for that folks. Very helpful.

 

[bikeworkshop]

I'd have to advise against knocking the cups out with a bar, as it's not coming out straight, so will affect the inside of the head tube, and possibly the cup too, whereas the expanding tool pushes evenly all the way round.

Id also advise against using a vice to press in the cups, as you are just using your eye for 2 dimensions of alignment on insertion and then just using the head tube/paint to get a parallel seat.

A headset wants to be absolutely parallel - which is ultimately impossible - but the further out you are, the more uneven forces there will be within the bearing, causing uneven wear.

You can do what you want with your own bike, especially if it's nothing special with no real value, but if you want to do it properly either buy the proper tools or pay someone who has them.

 

[minor_LEGEND]

No mention of headset spanners? You can't adjust them without atleast one.

I love the Pedros ones I bought last year, I had a 1 1/4" headset to play with & the 1" on the Fire Mountain kept coming loose, so picked up the 3 sizes.

 

[Janners BJJ Clunker Rider]

No mention of headset spanners? You can't adjust them without atleast one.

I love the Pedros ones I bought last year, I had a 1 1/4" headset to play with & the 1" on the Fire Mountain kept coming loose, so picked up the 3 sizes.

You are indeed correct. I have headset spanners. In essence I have the essentials for everyday servicing, just now popping together the "frivalous" bits.

 

[27motorhead]

No mention of headset spanners? You can't adjust them without atleast one.

I love the Pedros ones I bought last year, I had a 1 1/4" headset to play with & the 1" on the Fire Mountain kept coming loose, so picked up the 3 sizes.

I have Park Headset spanners and have to say they don't fit great on Shimano 1" headsets. I actually use a thin bit of shim to improve the fit to prevent marking/rounding-off the headset.

@minor_LEGEND how have you found the fit of the Pedros and what headsets have you used them on?

 

[minor_LEGEND]

Pedros - bang on. Have used the 1 1/8" on various headsets incl alloy locknuts. The 1" on a few different headsets & the 1 1/4" was on a XT. No complaints, just lovely tools which I may add to the collection. We had a few Pedros spanners in a pro workshop I worked in which helped me make my decision.

 

[LeeDevelopment]

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.

The 'Tom Barker' method; whack it in, a bit o'wood with an 'ammer or a rock. Whack it oot w'a straight edge screwdriver and a rock or an 'ammer, aye, job's a good 'un.....

 

[minor_LEGEND]

When it comes to improvising without the correct presses etc, it can be done successfully when exercising some mechanical sympathy. Knowing when to stop or when not to use full-force.

 

[27motorhead]

Pedros - bang on. Have used the 1 1/8" on various headsets incl alloy locknuts. The 1" on a few different headsets & the 1 1/4" was on a XT. No complaints, just lovely tools which I may add to the collection. We had a few Pedros spanners in a pro workshop I worked in which helped me make my decision.

That's great to know, will certainly check them out as I'm not impressed with the fit of the Park. Always happy buying more tools!!!

 

[Twozaskars]

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.

This. Better to learn here than the hard way. Smacking a headset straight at your concrete garage floor being the hard way.