How do you fit a head set ?

Levi_501

I do not have a recognised headset tool, but I do have a foot long piece of 12mm threaded bar, nuts and couple of thick steel washers.

A mate said he beats them in with hammer :shock:

Dare I ask what is the preffered home tool method, or do you take them to the shop ?

Shaun20

I use the threaded bar and washer method, but you have to be careful to get the cups square in the frame at the start.

cat_with_no_tail

Take it down the lbs armed with a chocolate orange. Hasn't failed me yet. Surprisingly easy and professional results

ropey

As Shaun20 said.Use a block of wood or a mallet to realign it if it goes off square

Northwind

Bar and washers here, works a charm. Though I've used percussive engineering, ie monging it with a hammer, in the past with good results but you just feel like such a bodger when you do it, it's not good for the soul.

nicklouse

so you have splashed out on a Hope headset. which you now want to fit into a frame that come on £1800 of the shelf builds.

and you are not going to spend the fiver a bike shop might charge as you did not buy the headset from them .... often free fitting if bought from them.

and to quote you

When I order the DT Swiss forks for the new Trek 8500 frame, rather than a cheapie headset I bit the bullet and bought a Hope Semi Integrated Head Set with the Head Set Doctor nut thing.

Have to say, very impressed. Beautifully made and I really like the idea that you can change the bearings without replacing the whole head set.

Thumbs up from the red corner.

sure it will still be a thumbs up after you have tried fitting it?

have fun.

also have a read through the Parktools and Sheldons pages on how to work on your bike.

Johnny Napalm

If you want to spend an extra £34.19, then you can use one of these, which will give you the result that you require for now, and also any future requirements.

It works a treat...and even I can use it!

Northwind

It's pretty much functionally identical to my steel-rod-washers-and-nuts and it cost about £3.50

Johnny Napalm

I know, Northwind...I was going to do the same.

I work in sales for a company that produces threaded rods to the construction industry, and we have all manner of dias., threads and components that could easily make a press.

My headset press was a present, otherwise I would've got the bits from work and made my own. I simply can't understand why some of the bike tool companies charge so much for a press when it's such a simple tool...it's ridiculous.

Radioactiveman

You can fit a headset with a lump of wood and a hammer,it isnt very refined and you stand a chance of putting the cups in at an angle,damaging the headtube unless you have a small amount of mechanical skill

A bike shop press tool fits the cups parallel,providing headtube has been faced. So bearings should last longer then one that has been bashed in slightly out of square.

Depends on your ability and available tools. My order of preference would be
1. LBS with proper tool(different attachments for different cups i believe)
2. Homemade press ,probably as good or near enough. TBH this park one looks homemade
http://www.parktool.com/products/detail ... item=HHP-3
3. Lump of wood and a hammer (small amount of skill reqd)

richg1979

big g clamp a big washer and a 24mm socket, works perfect everytime just make sure you push the cup in with the fixed part of the clamp not the swivel or it will try and kick over.