Removing aheadset crown race

I am about to take my frame in to get it powder coated, and I am in the process of taking it apart. I'm struggling with removing the headset, but I know I can buy a tool to do that. However, I am not sure how to remove the crown race from the fork. I was just going to hit it with a hammer and screwdriver, but figured I should ask before I do that... I don't want to damage the fork.

So.. how do I remove the crown race from the fork?

hammer and thin flathead screwdriver. take it slow, forks should be fine.

hammer and thin flathead screwdriver. take it slow, forks should be fine.

Thanks! I'll give it a go tomorrow and see how it works out. I tried that with the headset and got nowhere!

it's prolly just on really tight. keep at it for 10 minutes or so, should come off.

I am about to take my frame in to get it powder coated, and I am in the process of taking it apart. I'm struggling with removing the headset, but I know I can buy a tool to do that. However, I am not sure how to remove the crown race from the fork. I was just going to hit it with a hammer and screwdriver, but figured I should ask before I do that... I don't want to damage the fork.

So.. how do I remove the crown race from the fork?

To remove headset bearing cups, get a suitable length of tube, not too large in diameter and work round the cup from the inside hitting it opposites with a hammer until the cups drop out.

As for the crownrace, as mentioned a screwdriver should suffice if you have no suitable punch to hand. If its a carbon fork with no place to get under the race (which really fucks me off, why do manufacturers do that!!) Then at worst remove a stanley blade from a knife and gently knock that between the race and fork seat until you have enough room to get a larger object between the two.

To remove headset bearing cups, get a suitable length of tube, not too large in diameter and work round the cup from the inside hitting it opposites with a hammer until the cups drop out.

As for the crownrace, as mentioned a screwdriver should suffice if you have no suitable punch to hand. If its a carbon fork with no place to get under the race (which really fucks me off, why do manufacturers do that!!) Then at worst remove a stanley blade from a knife and gently knock that between the race and fork seat until you have enough room to get a larger object between the two.

Thanks for the tips. I was able to get the crown race and headset cups removed. I dropped the frame off at Armourtex on Wednesday, and hope to get it back today or Monday. Now I have to figure out how to install my new crown race without the punch tool or whatever it's called!

Easy! Well, easier than fitting headset cups. Just slide the race on the fork, fit it all together as norm, now go ride down the road and do a few bunnyhops, if needed turn the bars round and repeat. Worked for my Chis king headset on my MTB.

This is assuming you cant find a nice bit of old pipe kicking about to use as a slide hammer.

So, I got the frame back from Armourtex yesterday. Pretty funny, b/c they painted it the wrong colour! I had requested a creme-ish colour (like a custard creme or whatever), but when I got there, they had gotten my bike mixed up with someone else's and swapped the colours. This is especially funny because I am 6'6" and have a 61cm frame. The other bike was tiny. So anyway, I kept the colour they painted mine with because it wasn't bad at all. Kind of a blue-green (not unlike the 'celeste' colour that you see on Bianchis). They knocked £9 off the price, so it only cost me £55 altogether. Not bad. Especially since I had started second-guessing my initial colour choice before going to pick up the frame.

they should have given it to you for free, or offered to re-do it.

They offered to re-do it. The guy was really nice and apologetic. But I couldn't be bothered, really. I liked the new colour and didn't feel like waiting to get the frame back. Plus, it was cheaper, which is always a big selling point for me.

I'll post a picture over on the Armourtex Colours thread.