homespun headset press idea
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: SW Ohio
Posts: 3,682
Bikes: Puch Marco Polo, Saint Tropez, Masi Gran Criterium
Mentioned: 25 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1163 Post(s)
Liked 442 Times
in
315 Posts
homespun headset press idea
I really need my own headset press. I would love to have my own Park, VAR, or better yet the deluxe Bicycle Research one that combines reamer, facer and headset press all in one for a lovely price just shy of $300! Actually forking out the $$ for any of these is a problem since I always need the cash for something more critical, so I started thinking: why not use my wood lathe and turn some maple hardwood into some custom bushings and use some 1/2" (or better yet 5/8") threaded rod, and some other custom fabricated bits to rig up a smooth acting, powerful headset press of my own? How hard could it be. If I do produce it, I'll post up my creation here.
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Fresno, CA
Posts: 4,454
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 128 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 12 Times
in
10 Posts
There are some threads on this. I started one awhile back that got lots of replies. I made my own headset press awhile back for $15 at a hardware store - long bolt, brass bushings (need to get correct size to fit 1" or 1.125" headset cups", large washers and a nut. You just tighten the nut and it forces the headset cups in like a knife into butter.
The trickier part is tooling to get the headset cups *out* of the frame in the first place.
The trickier part is tooling to get the headset cups *out* of the frame in the first place.
__________________
"c" is not a unit that measures tire width
"c" is not a unit that measures tire width
#3
如果你能讀了這個你講中文
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: New York
Posts: 3,542
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Originally Posted by timcupery
The trickier part is tooling to get the headset cups *out* of the frame in the first place.
#4
Senior Member
Second Timcuppery, but mine is even simpler, just two very big washers that fit over the ends of the cups and a long bolt and nut. Grease well, makes it easier to install and more importantly, remove.
__________________
Il faut de l'audace, encore de l'audace, toujours de l'audace
1980 3Rensho-- 1975 Raleigh Sprite 3spd
1990s Raleigh M20 MTB--2007 Windsor Hour (track)
1988 Ducati 750 F1
Il faut de l'audace, encore de l'audace, toujours de l'audace
1980 3Rensho-- 1975 Raleigh Sprite 3spd
1990s Raleigh M20 MTB--2007 Windsor Hour (track)
1988 Ducati 750 F1
#5
Mad bike riding scientist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 27,363
Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones
Mentioned: 152 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6219 Post(s)
Liked 4,218 Times
in
2,365 Posts
Originally Posted by genericbikedude
with a bit of care, a rag and a screwdriver and a hammer will do you just fine.
For the homemade press, the washers work but they can be difficult to keep the headset properly aligned. Spend a little cash and buy just the cups for a good press. It makes alignment much better and much easier.
On the other hand, the Park tools are sweeeet! I've been able to aquire the crown set tool, the cup remover and the headset press over the years and they are so much easier to use than the kluge jobs that I've made. The press, in particular, is like butta
__________________
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Fresno, CA
Posts: 4,454
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 128 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 12 Times
in
10 Posts
Originally Posted by San Rensho
Second Timcuppery, but mine is even simpler, just two very big washers that fit over the ends of the cups and a long bolt and nut. Grease well, makes it easier to install and more importantly, remove.
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Santa Cruz
Posts: 425
Bikes: doesnt matter. just ride.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
you can get headset presses for way cheaper than 3 hundy. doesnt nashbar make one?
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Quahog, RI
Posts: 1,509
Bikes: Giant TCR Comps, Cdale R5000, Klein Q-Pro, Litespeed Siena, Piasano 105, Redline Conquest Pro, Voodoo Bizango, Fuji Aloha
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Just how many times are you planning on putting in new cups? I give my team's wrench 10 bucks and it's done by the time I come back with a couple of coffees. Don't get me wrong, I'm the king of do-it-yourselfers, but some stuff just doesn't make sense due to the limited volume.
#9
New Orleans
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,794
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 157 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
I always just tap them out with a punch or a home made drift,and press them in with a 2x4 and a hammer.My method is half azzed;it would be nice to have a real"press" of some sort.Hardwoods should make nice cup presser inners-heck,if you are a real cheapskate you could put them on either side of a big screw type pipe clamp,and just press them in.Maybe you could make a run of just the wooden "pressers" and sell them here.Luck,Charlie
#10
Direct Hit Not Required
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: San Bruno, CA
Posts: 6,193
Bikes: Leopard DC1, Ridley X-Fire, GT Zaskar 9r
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Originally Posted by concernicus
you can get headset presses for way cheaper than 3 hundy. doesnt nashbar make one?
https://www.performancebike.com/shop/...tegory_ID=4209
Last edited by BlastRadius; 03-31-06 at 04:50 PM.
#12
Direct Hit Not Required
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: San Bruno, CA
Posts: 6,193
Bikes: Leopard DC1, Ridley X-Fire, GT Zaskar 9r
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Originally Posted by The Fixer
Simple, but effective........I'll post this again...
(I say $99 because the $50 Pricepoint tool is backordered.)
#13
Banned.
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Home alone
Posts: 6,017
Bikes: Trek 4300 X 2. Trek 1000, Trek 6000
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Originally Posted by The Fixer
Simple, but effective........I'll post this again...
#14
hello
Originally Posted by Ranger
Would you mind listing exactly what you have there? In terms of size, etc.
#15
Mad bike riding scientist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 27,363
Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones
Mentioned: 152 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6219 Post(s)
Liked 4,218 Times
in
2,365 Posts
Originally Posted by The Fixer
3/4" bolt, nuts, and washers.
__________________
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
#16
Senior Member
Originally Posted by The Fixer
Simple, but effective........I'll post this again...
Last edited by classic1; 04-01-06 at 05:54 AM.
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Posts: 1,383
Bikes: Cinelli Supercoursa 69, Ritchey Breakaway Cross, Mondonico Diamond Extra 05, Coors Light Greg Lemond (built by Scapin) 88, Scapin MTB, Stumpjumper 83, Specialized Stumpjumper M4, Lemond Poprad 2001
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8 Post(s)
Liked 2 Times
in
1 Post
Made one similar to the Fixer's for the cups about 40 years ago and it still works. For the fork race I made one with a pipe that had an ID just slightly larger than the fork OD...again a lot of years ago...still works on the 1" steerer tubs. I will need to make another when I go to a 1 1/8" steerer tube. Shouldn't be a problem.
#18
Banned.
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Tony Soprano's Street
Posts: 779
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I use some hardwood dowel bits and a pipe clamp. I get someone to hold everything in position until I get the clamp started. Haven't ruined a headset yet.