Originally Posted by
Zinger
I can't remember ever having work done at a Bike Shop other than having a freewheel removed when I didn't have the tool. I've never installed a headset though and now I've got one to do on an '83 Trek 970 road frame that I just bought from Barretscv. So I'm kind of wondering whether I should read up on it and do it myself (I do have a 32mm wrench) or let the local LBS install it. Since I'm probably buying it from "Velo Orange" I guess I'd better learn how to do it myself.
Park Tool probably has info on how to do, as well as Sheldon Brown's site. I always used to do the cups with a block of wood and a hammer back in the '70s/'80s, just make sure they are straight and not cocked and go slowly. Probably not the best advice now. You can make your own headset press with a long bolt and some big fender washers and a nut. Same for the crown race set; a piece of thick wall 1" PVC tubing and a cap, just make sure the ends are square.