Pressed my first headset today. Couldn’t get myself to pay for a tool or service so I went with the <$15 diy press. 1/2 in threaded rod, 6 fender washers, 2 nylon washers, 2 spacing washers, 2 nuts(i was initially looking for flange but Lowe’s was out so I went with tension and they worked fine). I was a little worried “testing” on a vintage ck but this tool is pretty flawless. Also went with ye ol pvc and mallet for the crown racer. Felt a lot less confident going into that one tbh but again pleasantly surprised. Did I get lucky not breaking anything or are some tools really that simple?
by slcwinemom
5 Comments
I use the same thing. Works great!
I don’t think too much luck was involved, sounds like you knew what you were doing. I guess the luck part is that the parts went in straight and smooth. I always stress when I see the cups start to lean a little bit, thinking that they’re going to get jammed and deformed somehow (it has literally never happened, but I still wonder about it almost every time).
Although once I learned about split crown races, I genuinely got so upset because like… what are we still doing messing around with these press-fit ones when those exist?
Once someone on here mentioned that you can just cut your own split into it – game changer.
But cool tho – headsets are fun.
It is a simple tool. The one you made should work fine. But you can also get a pretty legit headset press for $20 on Amazon, so you only saved $5. The cheap ones on Amazon have handles and ball bearings so they are easier and smoother to use. Also it’s called a “crown race”. lol.
I don’t remember how much I paid for the identical one I made, but the satisfaction I get each time I use it, knowing I outsmarted ‘Big Bike Tool’ is priceless.
How do you get that silver bit off the fork?