whats the best way to fit headset cups without a hammer

[steviehex]

i dont have the correct tool and when i was young i used a block of wood and a hammer but im old and wise now and wondered what other way there is,home made tools? any help would be great
cheers
steve

 

[syncrosfan]

Do you have access to a lathe? All you need are two aluminum discs in the correct size with a hole trough them and a longish piece of threaded rod (somewhere in the size range M8 to M10) and voila! self made headset press.

 

[TGR]

Hi

Same idea as above - a piece of threaded bar and some wood with holes drilled in them - a couple of nuts and a spanner and you are good to go. I think you can get these on ebay for around £10 - with plastic bits instead of wood (but i am cheap!).

I suspect i have posted pics of mine somewhere here in relation to removing a BB cup using the same tool -= multi-purpose and cheap!

Richard

 

[gmac123]

£35 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ice-Toolz-Cyc ... 43c8815859

I got similar for 35 euro, very satisfying to use - when you're used to a hammer and piece of wood as I was

http://www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/bear ... /wg_id-539

ebay used to have loads of this design of home made jobbies, although this is one is for BB's. you can make yourself for a visit to a hardware shop and a for a few quid

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SHIMANO-SRAM- ... 3cd8bb49c6

 

[TGR]

Homemade works out at around £5.

Threaded bar rocks!!!! LOLOL

richard

 

[jimo746]

Re:

For years I used blocks of wood and a lump hammer, a few weeks ago I bought an x-tools headset press from Chain reaction cycles, the difference is amazing.... No more hammering, cursing, fretting about damaging the cups or the frame... The headset cups now smoothly slide into position perfectly straight every time with minimum effort. Honestly one of the most useful bike tools I have bought.

It was £50, but I used a CRC mystery voucher that I received with a previous order and got £20 off

 

[dyna-ti]

I had to press in a CK just yesterday.
Took one length of threaded rod which comes in 1m length size M10(£5 or£6 i think :?) -reasonably thick so unlikely to deform or bend easily
Using trusty hacksaw i cut off 10" as neatly as i could
Placed 1 M10 nut and a cap nut on one end and tightened them together(effectively seals one end and the capnut means theres no ragged edge for you to catch your hand on), slid on a 50mm diameter(by about 4mm thick) washer
A 2nd washer then another M10 nut and tighten that single one till the cups are in place. You'll only be using a small spanner so when its fully home it will be evident and theres little chance of you over tightening it :?.

Obviously you place the cups in the frame roughly first. Plenty of grease and i mean plenty. its near as free so dont skimp. Ive usually found the cups sit in the headtube the first few mil,which makes things easier as you dont have to hold them and set up the press.
Cups placed in the few mil you slide the rod into the tube from the bottom with the double lock nuts and washer at the bottom, 2nd washer on the top add the nut and away you go.
This job is such an easy one and the making and use of the press is also as easy as pie that you will be surprised and have a 'man has discovered fire' moment when its done

One thing i would say to take note of and that is to make sure the rod press is central in the approximate middle of the tube. It keeps alignment dead straight and will do even if it is off a little bit *
* The fancy presses have cup adaptors that locate inside and over the top of each cup - much like a top hat washer. Its this that keeps the fancy ones exactly aligned.

 

[Chopper the ex Copper]

Large vice and an assistant to turn it while you hold the frame. Put the cups in the freezer first to contract them.

 

[Thias]

a fellow forum member from IBC made this:

More pics here:
http://www.mtb-news.de/forum/t/wir-bast ... 20/page-12

 

[The History Man]

Homemade works out at around £5.

Threaded bar rocks!!!! LOLOL

richard

Make sure the wood is strong enough.