Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - anyone have a headset press in williamsburg?

so i went to the NYCbikes sale today and picked up everything to repair/inprove my bike which has been out of commision for three weeks since my accident i still needed a headset so i bought one this evening at bicycle doctor, the downside is that i couldn't afford to have them install it, does anyone have a headset press(either real or homemade) that they could let me use in the next few days, like i said i have very little money but i'll buy you a beer or something,
thanks,
dan

you bought it there and they wouldnt even put it on for you for free.

THATS customer service!

you bought it there and they wouldnt even put it on for you for free.

THATS customer service!

I'm all for shops being courteous and helpful but installing a headset for free even if you buy it from them is above what I would expect from any shop.

you cant expect a shop to give you free labor for a headset.
if you buy a bike from them, different story.

also, use a rubber mallet. i've seen it done.

2x4 and a hammer. if you search 'install headset' you'll get a bunch of how to's for it. i just did it last week. if you dont want to go the cave man route, you'll also get a guide to make your own for about $2 with parts from any hardware store.

http://www.mindspring.com/~d.g1/headset.html

2x4 + hammer ftw

oh no. u must ream the head tube and lube it before you smack in there.

yeah, i think i'm going to try the washer method, i was just hoping someone on here would have a real tool, i wasn't expecting them to install it for free, i just can't afford the 50 dollars that bicycle doctor wanted to charge, nycBikes was super helpful and before they realized they didn't have any headset with the right sized race they were going to put it in for me as i explained how much of a budget i was on plus i had spent a little money at thier sale, just figured i'd see if anyone had a better idea,
thanks,
dan

oh no. u must ream the head tube and lube it before you smack in there.

Lube...yes. Reaming...not likely necessary.

Facing would be more important, but if he is just replacing an old headset it should probably be good to go. Unless it was faced like **** to begin with.

yeah, i think i'm going to try the washer method, i was just hoping someone on here would have a real tool, i wasn't expecting them to install it for free, i just can't afford the 50 dollars that bicycle doctor wanted to charge, nycBikes was super helpful and before they realized they didn't have any headset with the right sized race they were going to put it in for me as i explained how much of a budget i was on plus i had spent a little money at thier sale, just figured i'd see if anyone had a better idea,
thanks,
dan

$50 for a headset install is a bit steep.

I have a headset press but I am not around much for the next few days. Where are you at? I am over by the Navy Yard on the Fort Greene side.

I went to a shop and they told me a a bench mounted press was 300 bucks, so this 100 dollar tool seems like a bargain now.

Park sells the $100 shop version and then a home version for $50. While I think the $100 version is worth the money, I don't think the $50 version is any better than what you could make yourself with some stuff from the hardware store.

out of curiosity what would a reasonable amount to pay to install a headset, the old races had already been removed, i'm going to do it myself tomorrow with hardware store whatnot but i really have no idea what one would expect to pay for a headset install, i can't even say that 50 dollars is ridiculous(though it seems to be), it's just way way more than i could afford

20 or so

I think the shop I use to work at charged $25.

yeah, i think i'm going to try the washer method, i was just hoping someone on here would have a real tool, i wasn't expecting them to install it for free, i just can't afford the 50 dollars that bicycle doctor wanted to charge, nycBikes was super helpful and before they realized they didn't have any headset with the right sized race they were going to put it in for me as i explained how much of a budget i was on plus i had spent a little money at thier sale, just figured i'd see if anyone had a better idea,
thanks,
dan

$50???????????

Grease+Freezer+(2x4)+mallet = headset press

Freezer
Freezing the cups to make them smaller, I presume? Would leaving the headtube out in the sun for a while help too? I like these ideas of making jobs easier with moderate heat and cold.

Grease

Hmmmm. The park site says nothing about lubing. I didn't look up on Sheldon. I'd think it's not necessary, maybe not recommended to make the cup more stable in there. Or maybe there's a risk of corrosion? I certaily didn't use any grease.

Peace of threaded bar, two nuts, grease, some old iner tube (to protect the headset cups) and a selection of washers. Works every time.

Freezing the cups to make them smaller, I presume? Would leaving the headtube out in the sun for a while help too? I like these ideas of making jobs easier with moderate heat and cold.
I don't think the sun is going to have enough heat (especially this time of the year) to make the tubing expand at all. I'd just freeze the cups and that should be enough.


Hmmmm. The park site says nothing about lubing. I didn't look up on Sheldon. I'd think it's not necessary, maybe not recommended to make the cup more stable in there. Or maybe there's a risk of corrosion? I certaily didn't use any grease.
Grease isn't necessary, but every little bit helps. I combined the grease with the freezer and using the side of the 2x4, 1 hit was all that was needed to get the cups into place. Almost like a no nonsense approach, but again it's not necessary.

i've nev er lubed nor faced. 2x4 and a hammer was all i ever used to install headsets. never a problem

I always lube my headset cups.
For whatever that's worth.

if you're still looking, i'm in the depths of greenpoint and have a ghetto homemade threaded rod headset press.

i've installed a ton of headsets (though i can't find my 32mm headset wrench at the moment...), so send me a PM if you still need help.

Peace of threaded bar, two nuts, grease, some old iner tube (to protect the headset cups) and a selection of washers. Works every time.
+1 use a similar method all the time...use like 3/4 allthread rod...makes a nice rig and you can do it for your buddy's beer:beer: