Bicycle Mechanics - New CK Headset - Self install or use LBS?

Hi, everyone as you can tell I am new to this forum and have a question. I have a '03 Gary Fisher Sugar 3+ Disc and I want to change the stock headset to a Chris King Threadless. The question is should I attemp the upgrade myself or should I have my LBS do it ? I do most repairs myself and I do have a workstand and tools, but I definitely do not want to mess-up my ride. Any input will be apprciated. Thanks :D

Yes you can do it yourself with a home-made contraption consisting of a long bolt, two huge washers and to heavy nuts. Kinda like a cheap press.

Since you probably dropped upwards of $100 on the headset though, dont get cheap on us now and possably ruin it. Just take it to the shop and pay the extra ten bucks to have the cups pressed in correctly.

Heck, if you bought the bike or hs there, they may just do it for free.

Pressing in the cups is easy to do at home with a home-made press. I use about a 3' piece of "all-thread" I found at one of my construction jobs. I also use a couple of nuts and some BIG washers.

The difficult thing to do is to press the fork race onto the fork steerer tube. You have to find a tube that is slightly bigger than the steerer tube, yet smaller than the bearing race. This should be of a softer material than the hardened steel race to prevent damage.

What actually works pretty well is a piece of 1-1/4" PVC pipe. Get the stronger stuff Schedule 40 vs Schedule 80 (or vice versa, I'm tired!). The important thing is to cut it straight so when you bang it, it contacts the race evenly all the way around.

The other thing is setting the star nut. If you already have one in your steerer tube, then it's a non-issue.

L8R

For installing the King headsets there is a special set of spacers you are supposed to use to keep from screwing up the bearings, best to take it to a shop.

I would have the shop do it. As u need the special adaptors for King headsets and they can be liable for anything.

yea, ive had a king headset sitting around for ages cause i am either too lazy to bring it to the lbs to get pressed because its like the only thing i cant do because it needs special adaptors or i am subconsiosly too cheap to pay for them to press it or i cant decide which bike to put it in....very frustrating. oh well..

Take it to the LBS. CK is too nice to destroy using crappy tools.

Well everyone, form what I've been hearing it sounds like the bringing it to the LBS is the wasy to go. Thanks for everyones replies....Ride on....