bikemig 

My trusty campy crown race remover isn't doing it for a crown that I need to remove. The crown race is narrower than the tool. I don't feel like paying $140 for the park adjustable crown race remover. It looks like a fine tool but I don't pull crowns very often. Is there a tool out there that will cost less and do the job that someone can recommend? There probably isn't and I just need to suck it up and buy the park tool and/or pay the shop to do this job for me. Given how seldom I deal with headsets, it might be more cost effective to have the shop do it.

operator

This is a $10-$15 job at your LBS.

Soil_Sampler

have shop do it.

https://www.biketoolsetc.com/index.cg...tem_id=HZ-C440

https://www.biketoolsetc.com/index.cg...tem_id=VR-1001

https://www.biketoolsetc.com/index.cg...item_id=CU-137

Zef

Nashbar sells a relatively inexpensive tool that you can use to remove the crown race. I have seen similar tools at Harbor Freight in the section with the bearing pullers.

I have the nashbar tool and have used it once and it worked well. The blades on this are not replaceable whereas I believe Park has redesigned the base of their tool to make the blades replaceable...for non-shop use I don't think that will be an issue as if you muck up the blades of the Nashbar tool you can grind them back with a dremel or a bastrd file.

Here is a link to the nashbar tool:
https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...0052_124653_-1___

-j

cs1

The Nashbar looks just like the icetoolz I was thinking about. I'd try that.

Canker

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAYYtAhAxS0
I've always just used the flat head screwdriver + hammer method.

rootboy 

Look. He already scratched his fork in that video. Probably when the screwdriver slipped.
Nothing like using the wrong tool for the job.

leob1

Beleive it or not, I didn't until I saw it, you can remove a crown race with a single edge razor blade. Or at least get it started so you can finish with the screwdrive method. Put the sharp edge of the razor between the race and fork, and tap with a hammer, wourk you way around the race. It will come off, and there is little chance of it slipping and scratching the fork.

Crankycrank

That Nashbar tool is good or you could also get one of these. https://www.amazon.com/BR-Tools-ToolS...g+Removal+Tool This is just an example. They come in different sizes and can be found at many auto parts stores as well as Amazon, Ebay, etc.

bikemig 

I like it; it costs a lot less than the Nasbbar tool and I can buy it locally. Plus if the blades go bad, the replacement cost is pretty reasonable. I just don't hope it doesn't scratch up my fork. Thanks!

fietsbob

Can you get a drift punch under the CR edge ?, bang it off from alternate sides..

bikemig 

Yep, I've been thinking about this too. But I'd rather not kill the existing crown race. It is new and doesn't work right but I can return it to the shop where I bought it. No big deal if I kill it, though. Won't be the first part I've destroyed, . Sometimes that is the most satisfying way to remove a part.

fietsbob

Grind the tip-face so you hit the CR edge square (unlike a screwdriver) ..

tap tap here , tap tap there, here a tap, there a tap.

[sung to the tune of "old McDonald had a Farm"]

cyccommute 

It's actually called a bearing splitter. Works almost as well as the Park for a fraction of the cost.

vins0010

+1, I've done this with a replacement blade for a utility knife and got a race off without issue (used a rubber mallet instead of hammer, though). If this is one time thing and I were really worried about the finish, I'd take it to an LBS. The Nashbar tool or HF Bearing Splitter intrigue me as tools, but I'm already okay with my crown and headset tools being homemade versions (i.e., PVC pipe for crown setter; all-thread, nuts, and copper reducer for press; etc).

gregjones

I have used a (Home Depot, not fine quality) wood chisel with great success. Like fietsbob says....tap tap tap. The last two forks I used it on were full carbon guys, no problems at all.

It doesn't matter how expensive the tool, any hamfisted hammer happy user can scratch a fork.

reptilezs

for the crown races that are tough to get under with even the proper tool i use a stiff putty knife that is chisel ground