I got this new Reynolds 853 frame and I'm trying to install the bearing cups. I'm using the long bolt with washers technique for a headset press and it's not working. I can't get the cups to go in at all without slipping to one side or the other. Question is, do I need to ream the head tube, which I don't want to do, or do I just need a proper headset bearing cup press. I'm gonna break down and take it to the bike shop soon, luckily I haven't damaged anything yet.

Do you have any 1/2" drive sockets? A trick I use is to slide sockets into the headtube. They have to be wide enough to help guide the long bolt and small enough to slide out the of the cups. Becareful not to get sockets stuck in between your cups. You can also do it one cup at a time. This trick works well for me...

Btw, the sette headset press from pricepoint is only 50 bucks.

That's my next fun - installing a weirdo headset and guess at the spacers...

Anywho - here is a really nice headset-press from Germany. Sweet price. Beefy, tough, and true:

https://www.biketoolsetc.com/index.cg...&item_id=CU-HP

Try doing one cup only, then the second after the first is seated. Keeping both cups aligned simultaneously with the home-made tool is almost impossible.

A new 853 frame? I'd take it to a shop and get the headset installed using the proper tools before something happens that you may really regret.

I had a problem similar to that. You can go to homedepot and get some pvc end cups that come down on the racer and touch the sidewalls. It helps guide it. You do have to drill holes in the middle of those cups though. The plastic is soft enough were it won't damage your cups with more pressure. Before you do this....grab both cups and apply some light grease and put them in the freezer overnight. Then try it again. It makes a different having them shrink just a tad. If you don't want to try that...then take to the shop and let them do it right. IT's not worth the headache unless you really like to do stuff yourself.

I agree with JohnDThompson. Take it took a bikeshop, it probably needs to be reamed.

Took it to the shop, they ended up using a lot of force to get it in, but they got it in w/o breaking anything.