How To Remove Press Fit Headset

Information technology's important that your headset cups — the steering bearing parts that fit in the frame — are tight and secure. Hither'southward how to press them properly into place.

If your steering doesn't plow smoothly, your bike won't handle right. For the two bearings that brand up the headset to work right they have to exist properly aligned. In some frames this is taken care of by bearing holders congenital into the caput tube, just in many frames the whole headset is a separate component that fits in the head tube.

The headset cups fit tightly into the head tube, and so tightly in fact that the outside of the cup is very slightly larger than the inside of the head tube. This is known as an interference fit, and is what makes sure the bearings don't movement in the head tube.

That means yous need a lot of strength to go the cups into place. That can be done by hammering the cups into place (protecting them with wooden blocks) merely a far better manner is to use a purpose-made headset press.

Our guide below shows you what we believe is the all-time method to fit a headset cups . We've included a listing of the tools and materials that you will need to consummate the chore and in some cases where you lot can purchase them. If in that location are others that you prefer then feel free to let everybody know in the comments.

Tools & Materials

• Bearing press
• Anti-seize

How to printing headset cups into a frame

Pressing headset cups into a frame is i of the jobs that many bicycle owners fret about. It's really quite simple to practice, but information technology actually does require the right tool for the job and that is a headset press, a simple screwing mechanism which ensures the cups remain properly aligned equally you printing them into the frame.

ane Grease the caput tube Utilise a petty grease to ensure a smooth, easy fit that won't impairment the head tube, or the alloy headset cups. We're using a copper based anti-seize compound by Finish Line. It's ideal for ensuring there is less gamble for corrosion, or common cold welding with metal on metal parts.

ii Spread the grease around Prep the upper and lower ends of the caput tube. Use a finger to wipe the compound round the border. You're looking for about three quarters of an inch of the inside border covered.

3 Fit the bottom race We will begin with the  lower cup of the headset. Release the bottom plate from the press.  Lower the press shaft  through the caput tube.  Place the begetting  on the bottom plate and slide both back on the shaft. The printing tool will accept a bound loaded lock which work with detents on the press shaft to take up excess shaft length. Y'all can see the jump lock betwixt my third and forth fingers. Once the  headset cup is squarely presented to the caput tube and the lower press plate is locked to the shaft y'all're set to brainstorm.

iv Turn the press handle to push in the loving cupThe fox is to go slowly and keep an middle on the lower cup to ensure it's being pressed in evenly. Information technology should be, because the weight and squarely applied forcefulness mean that force from the side is minimised. Keep turning the handle. It'll be quite stiff; this is quite normal and actually a expert sign. If the loving cup isn't a tight fit information technology can come loose, leading to premature habiliment and damage to the head tube.

5 Keep going until you feel the handle reach its stop and the lower loving cup is fully dwelling. Don't just assume it'southward in identify though. Audit the betoken at which the lower cup and head tube meet. At that place should exist no gaps anywhere effectually the circumference of the marriage between both elements. If there information technology, and then give the loving cup a final tweak to close information technology up.

6 Fit the second cup To get the meridian cup in, we've turned the frame upside down in the workstand to make the job easier. As with the lower cup, remove the lower press plate get-go. Lower the press shaft through the cup  (on summit and out of this shot now that yous've turned the frame upside downwards), taking care to apply a stepped bearing drift to locate the shaft and handle assembly squarely in the lower cup.  Identify the upper cup on the base plate (as shown hither) and when everything is squarely presented you lot can begin to turn the winding handle and press the cup in.

7 Going in square Here we've stopped halfway and removed the tool to show how the cup should be going into the head tube: squarely and evenly. With this style of headset the lower cup has an external bearing, and the acme cup (pictured here) fits within the head tube, wth just the lip of the cup sitting on the edge of the head tube.

viii Fully home Once the top loving cup is fully pressed home, remove the press. Inspect the union betwixt the acme cup and the edge of the head tube. Equally before there should exist none. You lot now just need to slide the crown race on the fork and drop the top cup bearing shield into position earlier fitting the fork.

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Source: https://road.cc/content/feature/how-fit-headset-cups-8-easy-steps-172749

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