Headset replacement: At home, or at co-op?

[laura*]

I decided to carry just the fork to the co-op today and work on the crown race. I wasn't quite ready yet to take the whole bike to the co-op. Working on the fork at least got the project started.

Rather than use a spring compressor or vice, use a threaded rod with a large washer on each end as your press.

That's what the spring compressor essentially is. Here's a picture:

Is the old headset so bad that you can't just ride the bike to the co-op one last time?

The bottom cartridge bearing has been tilting in and out of position. I felt it OK for really short trips, but was worried that it might blow apart and cause some real damage. I contemplated riding the shortest route (7 miles) to the co-op. Problem is that's a road I've deemed unsafe for bikes. Had I chosen this option, I would have ridden to the co-op at 4AM or so (I have keys to get in!).

So why bother going to the coop?

I needed to go anyway - because I'm staff and was on the calendar to work there today.

If usually use my trainer as a work stand, ...

Hmm, good idea ... oops, nix that. This bike has an internal gear hub (plus a cassette!) and thus can't mount into a trainer.

I haven't taken off a headset, but the last time I was messing with transferring the crown race from one fork to another - I basically used a rubber mallet and a wood paint stick - the combination let me gently hammer it off.

The co-op has one of these (Universal Crown Race Puller CRP-1):



There was no way to hammer the race off because the fork's crown is much wider than the race. Plus, the cheap race didn't have designed into it a way to get tools under it. Luckily the CRP-1 was able to remove it by gripping the sides of the race.

The co-op also has a tuning fork like tool to hammer races off (wouldn't have worked here) plus a bearing splitter style tool.

Putting on a crown race, you can use a piece of pvc tubing.

The co-op has this set (Crown Race Setting System CRS-1):



It worked great!

If you're taking the fork to the coop anyways to do the crown race removal, you might as well just go to do everything.

These are the tools to remove and install headset cups:





The co-op's remover has been through too many 1 inch headsets. I don't think I'd trust it in the really large diameter (44mm) headset cups on this bike.

The co-op's installer is plumb worn out and broken from too much use.

Tomorrow's at home project is to work on the headset cups...