How do you mount a headset race on forks?

[swee'pea99]

Replacing the headset race on some forks - the old one was corroded beyond saving. Got the old one off, but now I can't get the replacement to go on. I've been trying to 'encourage' it on, using a hammer and a big screwdriver, tippy-tapping one side then the other then the other, but it's just not working. Ideally you'd need to apply equal pressure all the way round, I suppose. Anyone have a good idea on how to do this?

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

A pipe.

My repair stand e.g. is made of tubes that are larger than the steerer but smaller than the race. Some paper as padding between the race and the pipe and whack !

The Park tool is essentially the same thing.

 

[PatrickPending]

yep a pipe type thing, or your lbs will have the tool (basically a pipe type thing!) - i did have to take my fork race to work where the kind folks took 0.2mm off the inner - it'd probably hsve cracked otherwise as the inner diameter was too small. Worth measuring both just in case....

 

[Zoiders]

If it's an 1"1/8 steerer fork that is steel or ally you can make the tool from an old ally stem (a long one to use as a handle), place the crown race on the steerer slide the old stem on over it. With forks resting on some padding like folded up paper or cardboard just use the hammer and screwdriver against the top of the stem clamp - stop every few taps and move the "tool" around a quarter of a turn. You use an ally stem as it's softer than the steel of the crown race, purpose made tools use a copper face for the same reason.

The crown race is usually hardened and not likely to crack, if it really worries you, you can gently remove material from the stepped section of the fork crown/steerer that the crown race sits upon although it's usually just paint build up, you shouldn't always have to do this though as they are meant to be a tight fit - hence the need to use a slide hammer type tool to seat them.

 

[swee'pea99]

Thanks all - makes good sense. I was thinking pipe...it's just I don't have one. I did come across a mention in Sheldon that you can sometimes do it by sticking it on more or less then going for a bumpy ride, and the frame does the job. Think I'll give that a go and when it doesn't work (!) I think it's probably going to be off down the LBS where I should think they probably do have pipes.

 

[rusty bearing]

'Pipes'? You mean a 'donker'

 

[tyred]

yep a pipe type thing, or your lbs will have the tool (basically a pipe type thing!) - i did have to take my fork race to work where the kind folks took 0.2mm off the inner - it'd probably hsve cracked otherwise as the inner diameter was too small. Worth measuring both just in case....

Worth bearing in mind as I thought they were all the same until I ran into this on the Viscount Aerospace I recently got. I did it with a smooth file and patience.

 

[asterix]

It's one of those jobs I get the LBS to do. A fiver well spent last time.