Stuck headset cup, removal woes, idiot needs help!

[Tad]

Heat.

Get a blow torch and heat the head tube, work round it. It has a two fold benefit, it will get the steel of the frame to expand and also chances are it will break any corrosion in place. Yes the headset cup will eventually expand as heat is passed through by conduction but not as quickly as the head tube. Once it's good and hot get a lump of wood against the outside of the headset and wallop it. Move the wood from one side of the head tube to the other and wallop again. Eventually you'll "walk" the cups out. I adopt the lump of wood and hamer approach first, it usually works, if all else fails it's out with a blow torch, that's never failed.

It's not pretty but if you're careful and build the heat up gradually it does T-Cut out to a certain extent.

Did a headset for Bobcatmax a few weeks ago, luckily without having to resort to fire.

 

[coomber]

If they are that stuck puting in a vice and pulling will not help. The correct tool and a hammer as already suggested.

I have the correct tool, but headset is too short so wont work as per original post.

If I stick headset cups in a vice tightly, then they will remain static and I can turn the frame until they come apart, should be ok once the bond is broken I'd have thought.

 

[coomber]

Heat.

Get a blow torch and heat the head tube, work round it. It has a two fold benefit, it will get the steel of the frame to expand and also chances are it will break any corrosion in place. Yes the headset cup will eventually expand as heat is passed through by conduction but not as quickly as the head tube. Once it's good and hot get a lump of wood against the outside of the headset and wallop it. Move the wood from one side of the head tube to the other and wallop again. Eventually you'll "walk" the cups out. I adopt the lump of wood and hamer approach first, it usually works, if all else fails it's out with a blow torch, that's never failed.

It's not pretty but if you're careful and build the heat up gradually it does T-Cut out to a certain extent.

Did a headset for Bobcatmax a few weeks ago, luckily without having to resort to fire.

Think I'll give this a go. Rust looks like it might need a respray anyway, but I'll see how little paint damage there is first.

 

[Tad]

Don't concentrate the flame in just one place, keep moving it round the head tube. Do one cup at a time too. Once one's out then get to work on the other.

Off cut of 2"x1" pine and a hammer are the other bits you'll need.

 

[coomber]

Cool, thanks for the tips.

 

[WD Pro]

If they are that stuck puting in a vice and pulling will not help. The correct tool and a hammer as already suggested.

I have the correct tool, but headset is too short so wont work as per original post.

If I stick headset cups in a vice tightly, then they will remain static and I can turn the frame until they come apart, should be ok once the bond is broken I'd have thought.

I suspect that to hold them tight enough in a vice you will distort them - my concern would then be the headtube :-( if all else fails - dremel

WD

 

[Raging_Bulls]

Yep, DON'T put them in a vice. You'll simply riun the headtube.

A long screwdriver, a big hammer and lots of brute force. Those are the main ingredients to proper removal.

Make sure you actually hit the screwdriver tho. If you miss and hit the frame itself with the hammer, you might have a bigger problem.

 

[Woz]

Hackswaw? Take the blade out, pop it through the head-tube, cut a groove in the cup. Even that may generate enough heat to dislodge it ready for more medieval tactics to finish it off.

 

[bm0p700f]

Is the bike in a stand when you are doing this? If it is not then removing a stuck headset with the correct tool or srew driver is very difficult. Heat is the best suggestion unless you can clamp the bike is a heavy stand so you really twat the heast cup tool with a lump hammer. I appreciate not everyone has stand fabricated by a hot rod builder form big lumps of iron.

 

[coomber]

Is the bike in a stand when you are doing this? If it is not then removing a stuck headset with the correct tool or srew driver is very difficult. Heat is the best suggestion unless you can clamp the bike is a heavy stand so you really tw*t the heast cup tool with a lump hammer. I appreciate not everyone has stand fabricated by a hot rod builder form big lumps of iron.

I had the frame on the (soft ground) with a plank of wood under the top part of the downtube where it joins the headtube so wont get damaged. Had my brother holding it still and used a half inch flat spanner and mallet and hit as hard as I could repeatedly.

Am taking delivery of a bike stand soon, see if thats any easier.

All this for a skip find bottom end saracen!