DIY headset installer tips?

70\ʹspenguin

Ok, so i have a £1.99 Ebay headset tool. (A threaded rod, two washers, two plastic larger washers and a couple of nuts.)

A workmate to secure the frame, a couple of wrenches and some grease.

For the life of me i can not seem to seat the cups in straight. It all starts off ok and then tilts at about a 30 degree angle. Tap out, rinse and repeat and the same thing over and over.

Does anyone have any advice (aside from buying the right tool or going to the LBS), on how to get it in straight?

Thanks
Matthew

nicklouse

yes fit one at a time.

The Rookie

+1, that way you pull on something square.

cooldad

Hammer and a bit of wood works for me.

allthegearnoidea

the threaded bar DIY tool does need some effort to get it in properly, have used the proper tools before in the bike shop and it makes it So much easier!! but as above, have also done it via wood block and rubber mallet.

70\ʹspenguin

Thanks for the replies. Sadly I was only doing one cup at a time. I guess just trial and error

ilovedirt

I made my own headset press out of some threaded bar and some offcuts of wood with a hole drilled through the middle. If they go in wonky (which they did), just give them a tap with a mallet to straighten them up. Worked fine for me on the two headsets I've fitted so far.

white_alpine

Looking at the ones on FleaBay I'm tempted to say that it may be prone to flexing if you set it up off-centre. I made my own working on the same principal using a piece of M20 threaded rod and two thick (typically 25mm) nylon blocks. I've installed a number of headsets using it with no problems.

A smear of grease on the inside of the headtube will also help to ease the cups in without binding.

70\ʹspenguin

Well, it seems the addition of a hammer and two bits of wood worked! I used the tool to get the cups in (albeit wonky), and then tapped it in straight with the hammer and finished it off once straight with the tool. First attempt too with both cups.

Id advise anyone getting a flea bay tool to add a couple more metal washers either end to give more strngth as both of mine are now concave!

Thank you for the help!

cooldad

Hammers are awesome.

70\ʹspenguin

cooldad wrote:

Hammers are awesome.

HAMMER TIME!

ilovedirt

70\'sPenguin wrote:

Well, it seems the addition of a hammer and two bits of wood worked! I used the tool to get the cups in (albeit wonky), and then tapped it in straight with the hammer and finished it off once straight with the tool. First attempt too with both cups.

Id advise anyone getting a flea bay tool to add a couple more metal washers either end to give more strngth as both of mine are now concave!

Thank you for the help!

Not just a pretty face y'know