DIY headcup remover

[thomas_cho]

I want to remove headset cups from my old frames which take 1 inch forks.

I can only find headset cup removers for 1 1/8 inch at chainreaction.

Anyone know how I can fabricate something similar with stuff found at Bunnings?

[tallywhacker]

look here and here for some tips. Personally I use a flat head screwdriver, hammer and baby taps. Its the way I have seen a lot of bike shops do it.

[LuckyPierre]

I do the same - wide flat screwdriver down the headtube and tap gently. Usually, the headset cups come out pretty easily.

[thomas_cho]

I used the flat head screw driver, and hammer method, and ended up denting the cups.

Could be my impatience ...

Thanks for the links.

I think the key is to apply force evenly at the same time. The screw driver method just means that its not possible to apply the force evenly across the cup if you know what I mean?

Anyone else has had a go at removing headset cups?

While we are in the area, what about installing and removing crown races?

I used a chisel to tap out the crown race, and ended up scaring it. I have read of people using PVC pipes to install the crown race, but I went to bunnings and just cant find the right diameter PVC pipe to do it.

Any other DIY methods?

[europa]

I used a block of wood and a hammer, but essentially the same as the screw driver method.

Have you soaked it overnight with penetrene? It could be a rust seal that's giving you grief. They aren't put in all that tight and so shouldn't be too hard to get out.

Richard

[dant]

Screwdriver with the end cut off. tent peg has the same effect. it means you have less chance of denting the thing.

[HappyHumber]

Similar experiences as most of the previous posters - but one day I had a particularly difficult pair of cups to extract. I was using a flathead punch and not getting enough purchase for its length versus the head tube.

Here's a good article from Bob Moulton's blog :
http://davesbikeblog.blogspot.com/2007/ ... ement.html

He uses a copper pipe (his pic seems to have a common heritage with one of the previous posters here) but as per my comment in his article; on the advise of my LBS, they said just a crappy old steel flat bar handle bar would do the trick and and it did!

Kym

[thomas_cho]

kym ... crappy flat handlebar ... what a great tip!!

a seatpost tube would probably do as well!

Thanks all

[thomas_cho]

I used a block of wood and a hammer, but essentially the same as the screw driver method.

Have you soaked it overnight with penetrene? It could be a rust seal that's giving you grief. They aren't put in all that tight and so shouldn't be too hard to get out.

Richard

No, but I probably should have. For some impatient reason, I just wanted it out there and then.

[Kid_Carbine]

I tend to use a 4oz gasket hammer [ball pein type, very small & light] with whatever I can lay my hands on, usually a large flat blade screwdriver.
The trick is to try & work around the cup on the inside of the head tube all the time that you are tapping. Preferably working on near to opposite sides every couple of taps.

Slowly slowly catchee monkey. The idea is to not allow the cup to courier in the bore & working around it constantly with softer blows [as long as it is moving] will achieve this.

[Mulger bill]

Gonna make me a Bob Moulton I am, good stuff.

Shaun