Installing a headset on a new frame

who can help me with this? i'm useless at this. gonna try build the rest of the bike up myself but this looks really hard. i can pay you.

Your LBS buddy. It should cost no more than £20. In a (sort of) emergency, I once even got Evans on Clapham High St to do one for me. It was £30, daylight freakin robbery, but they did it, it worked then, it still does now, so I'm not complaining.

Easier than a BB assembly, in my not-very-much-experience.

Only thing is to have the correct size spanner(s). Worth a try before you pay someone else - there's only one way to learn.

Tool library: http://www.londonfgss.com/thread2775.html

Look for someone who has what you need.

BTW, is it the headset cups or just the nuts on the top? Threaded or threadless headset?

i allways get my LBS to install the cups, as it's the only thing i dont have the tools for, and i don't like bodging it.
i either use Brixton Cycles, or Edwardes in Camberwell.
they both charge £15.

The London Bicycle Repair Shop, just off The Cut in SE1 will do this for £10. They'll do an excellent job too.

its the lot

1" threaded headset, and the fork needs to be cut down too.

Tool library: http://www.londonfgss.com/thread2775.html

Look for someone who has what you need.

BTW, is it the headset cups or just the nuts on the top? Threaded or threadless headset?

I was assuming he meant cups, which requires more than a spanner! I've used the homemade press and drift-of-wood-and-massive-hammer methods, but he disn't sound up for this from his OP.

If the cups are in, just get the spanner like Skulls says. Then HTFU and get on with it!

yeeeeeeehhhhhaaaaaaarrrrrrrr!!!!

le' me at it!!

I got one done at my lbs and got them to let me help so I knew how to do it the next time.

i was a bit shy to do it myself too the other weekend my headset failed and got replaced in 30min by me. that included hammering the old cups out. easy peasy japaniesy! use a piece of wood and a heavy-ish hammer and givit som'. take care not to angle the cups to much - hammer it accordingly to keep it aligned. getting some of the paint out with sandpaper beforehand might help, if its a thick powder coat layer plus anti corrosion car wax spray the head tube afterwards, assemble (get the right spanner if its a threaded fork job) and go by beer for 20quit. hmmmm, beeeer.
no wait! now you can ride to get some :D

yeeeeeeehhhhhaaaaaaarrrrrrrr!!!!

le' me at it!!

Haha - it's not pretty but it gets the job done!
(BTW I do not dare follow the link in that image)

I'm in SE1 and have a proper (Cyclus) headset press for any size, also if it's specifically a 1" steerer I also have the reaming and facing tool for the frame if it has never been prepped properly, and a 1" die for cleaning or extending theaded steerer threads. Oh, and a jig for cutting the steerer. Happy to do straightforward intalls for a beer or two... offer open to all not just Ben ;-)

wow, good man.

Me and Macca81 installed a headset pretty well with a bench clamp, and a couple of pieces of wood. Much better than the hammer and wood technique!

I'm in SE1 and have a proper (Cyclus) headset press for any size, also if it's specifically a 1" steerer I also have the reaming and facing tool for the frame if it has never been prepped properly, and a 1" die for cleaning or extending theaded steerer threads. Oh, and a jig for cutting the steerer. Happy to do straightforward intalls for a beer or two... offer open to all not just Ben ;-)

good on ya! i just added it to the tool library thread. hope you dont mind.

Top offer that, nice one.

I'm in SE1 and have a proper (Cyclus) headset press for any size, also if it's specifically a 1" steerer I also have the reaming and facing tool for the frame if it has never been prepped properly, and a 1" die for cleaning or extending theaded steerer threads. Oh, and a jig for cutting the steerer. Happy to do straightforward intalls for a beer or two... offer open to all not just Ben ;-)

Might be headed your way some time...

Are you around at the weekend? I have a 1" threaded I need to pop in, too nervous to use a hammer...it feels a little stiff too...

any tips on popping the fork crown race on? its 1" threaded...

one of these

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@coppiThat, I am already in the tool library somewhere, but nobody ever seems to come via that route! I've done quite a lot of jobs for various LFGSS guys/gals and have most other weird/obscure frame tools as well.

@mc_nebula, should be around Saturday, PM me if you want to swing by.

Slightly connected to the headset theme - I need to replace the forks on my old Specialized Stumpjumper, the originals were 1" threaded, if I can get some with a long enough steerer tube, can I cut off the threaded part & use a 1" aheadset?
Or is that a stupid question?

Not a stupid question, should work OK, don't cut anything until you have assembled it all once just in case, plus you need more steerer than you think with threadless.

Excellent news!

i've got a headset cup press for 1" and a removal tool which i bought as i was sick of paying so much money to LBS for something that takes seconds .. i'm just off edgeware road near marble arch if that's more convenient than SE1, no charge