I want to replace the headset on my mountainbike but I’m not sure if this ring is part of the fork itself, or if it is part of the old headset that should be removed. It’s very stuck on the fork but leaving it on will create a weird gap with my new headset…
by Barth27
12 Comments
It’s called a crown race, and usually it stays in place unless you’re changing what type of headset you’re using. It’s angled to match your headset, usually 36 or 45 degrees, and the diameter needs to match as well. If you’re putting on new of the same headset, leave it in place.
Yeah, it’s the crown race for the headset you are removing. There’s a possibility it will fit with the new headset, I have no idea, but generally these things need to come off.
You can do it yourself with a hammer and punch, but that will likely mar the fork crown and the old race. Otherwise, a bike shop can pull this off and install the new one in 5 minutes.
It’s part of the headset.
The new one should have a similar ring that fits and engages properly with the new lower bearing.
Yes, that is your crown race, it is specific to your old headset, you need to remove that and replace it with the new crown race.
Yes, that will need to come off if you’re putting a new headset on. A Crown Race Remover is the correct tool to use (not everyone does that though).
This part actually provides the upper bearing surface – the balls physically roll on it. So even if it fitted the new part by coincidence, it would at least partially defeat the purpose of the replacement if it was retained.
I asked how to transfer this in my shop, and mech said, “You need the special tool!” then he poked around in a drawer and pulled out a thin sheet of metal scrap with SPECIAL TOOL written on it in sharpie. Tap tap tap.
By the way : this ring is totally cooked since long … and it might become a serious misery to remove it … I‘m usually trying to lift it with an old but sharp screwdriver and a hammer by trying to get between the ring and the fork crown from all directions …and to install a new ring might become the same misery because of it’s usually a very tight fit …for this purpose I‘m using the old ring ( upside down) , a tube ( wider and longer than the fork shaft ) and a hammer….if you never done this before and don’t want to damage the fork crown it might be better to get help…
Yours is pitted, get a new one with new balls
https://preview.redd.it/g0vx7x61m1gf1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9d31293df8bba472463c6c8c997124476a47189c
Here’s the Park Tool version of that “special tool”
I use a filed butter knife and a hammer gently, going slowly around then a tiny flat head then keep going slightly bigger flat heads till its off.
Yes. I got a 2×4 on the underside and hit the other end of the wood with a mallet to force it up and then installed the new one with the new headset. Good luck!