liam n Posted November 30, 2010 Report Share Posted November 30, 2010 i have a NEW FSA ORBIT XL2 MTB HEADSET (1 1/8") and an onza comp (1 1/8" ) the headset doesn't slide in nor does it really fit in , this is by fractions of a mm wy is this? should i hit the headset in gentley with a hammer or sand it a tad? help me out thanks liam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirt jumper jake Posted November 30, 2010 Report Share Posted November 30, 2010 Press it in with a vice. or smash the f**k out of it with a hammer, either way it should be snug and not slide in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liam n Posted November 30, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2010 Press it in with a vice. or smash the f**k out of it with a hammer, either way it should be snug and not slide in ah i see, thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haydon_peter Posted November 30, 2010 Report Share Posted November 30, 2010 Press it in with a vice. or smash the f**k out of it with a hammer, either way it should be snug and not slide inDon't listen to this. If you use a hammer to fit a headset you are unlikely to fit it straight and there is also a good chance you will wreck the frame! Get a bike shop to fit it using the proper tool! Pressing headset cups into frames is one of the only jobs I get the local bike shop to do for me... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sstein Posted November 30, 2010 Report Share Posted November 30, 2010 do not do either of those things. If you are not confident take it to a bike shop. The best way to fit a headset without damaging anything is with a headset press, if you dont have one a vice works ok but you need to be careful to get it straight or else you could damage the frame. The last option is the hammer and a block of wood (I often do this myself) this is not recommended as it is most likely to damage stuff. If you must do it then line everything up properly, put a block of wood on the headset to protect it and then gently knock it with a hammer (should not take too much force). If you are careful and you know what to do you can use any method safely but I would still recommend getting it done properly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirt jumper jake Posted November 30, 2010 Report Share Posted November 30, 2010 Don't listen to this. If you use a hammer to fit a headset you are unlikely to fit it straight and there is also a good chance you will wreck the frame! Get a bike shop to fit it using the proper tool! Pressing headset cups into frames is one of the only jobs I get the local bike shop to do for me... the hammer bit i was being sarcastic about but the vice works plenty good enough so long as your not cack handed about it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haydon_peter Posted November 30, 2010 Report Share Posted November 30, 2010 Sarcasm does not work over the internet. If someone is asking a mechanical question in here and you are going to be a dick don't bother posting. Lets hope he does not wreck his frame because of you! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Rainbird Posted November 30, 2010 Report Share Posted November 30, 2010 Proper tools are nice, and if you aren't mechanically minded (Original poster: you're not...) then taking things to your LBS is great. You've gotta be fairly special if you can't do it with a mallet though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirt jumper jake Posted November 30, 2010 Report Share Posted November 30, 2010 Lets hope he does not wreck his frame because of you! He doesnt have to do as i say though, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Vandart Posted November 30, 2010 Report Share Posted November 30, 2010 (edited) I just line mine up square so it is holding in itself but sticking out. Then I get hold of the frame at the chainstays/seatstays and whack it once on a block of wood with a good swing. Does in in one hit. and yes I am serious I have been doing this for years and have never had a problem. Edit: the block of wood is on top of a wall/bench Edited November 30, 2010 by Matt Vandart Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welsh_side_2003 Posted November 30, 2010 Report Share Posted November 30, 2010 hammer and pieces of wood FOR THE WIN......ive been doing this for years too and never once had a problem with it ......!! i know its not ideal, but with no bikeshops locally that are any good i just make do !! but yes gents your should really get them oressed in !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davey1991 Posted December 1, 2010 Report Share Posted December 1, 2010 You can make the tool yourself with a long section of threaded bar, some large washers, some smaller washers and some large bolts. Large/ small washer at either end of the bar on either side of the headset cup, tighten a bolt onto either end, if the washers are the right size it will slide in nice and straight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew62 Posted December 1, 2010 Report Share Posted December 1, 2010 I just use a press. It's only £30 which is cheaper than labour and cheaper than a new frame - especially if you're going to be doing it more than once. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forteh Posted December 1, 2010 Report Share Posted December 1, 2010 Ive used big bits of wood and hammers to put headset cups in for years aswell, better if you can squeeze it in slowly with a vice though. You can make a press with a bit of threaded bar, nuts, washers and couple of squares of thick plywood Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sponge Posted December 1, 2010 Report Share Posted December 1, 2010 Just a general question: Are headset cups supposed to be lightly greased or not prior to installation? I've heard both sides from many different sources, but leaning more towards installing it dry? Curious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Revolver Posted December 1, 2010 Report Share Posted December 1, 2010 Hahaa, I've only ever beat cups into frames and have so far not felt any symptoms of a flared headtube. I'm relatively careful though.. I've seen someone on here I think, who made a press out of some threaded bar and some other bits. It wouldn't take much to make one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forteh Posted December 1, 2010 Report Share Posted December 1, 2010 Just a general question: Are headset cups supposed to be lightly greased or not prior to installation? I've heard both sides from many different sources, but leaning more towards installing it dry? Curious. Ive never greased one yet, it might help reduce any creaking though if the cups arent a snug fit in the frame (old frame which has seen many headsets). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadManMike Posted December 1, 2010 Report Share Posted December 1, 2010 He doesnt have to do as i say though, No, but if someone asks for advice and you give him some, he's likely to do it because he obviously didn't know. Don't be a tool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark W Posted December 1, 2010 Report Share Posted December 1, 2010 I've seen someone on here I think, who made a press out of some threaded bar and some other bits. It wouldn't take much to make one. Whatever gave you that idea? You can make a press with a bit of threaded bar, nuts, washers and couple of squares of thick plywood Just a general question: Are headset cups supposed to be lightly greased or not prior to installation? I've heard both sides from many different sources, but leaning more towards installing it dry? Curious. I/we do it without. If your head tube is reamed and faced then it should be pretty straightforward to do with a press (or with a hammer 'n' stuff I guess - in my "smash it with logs" days, non-reamed/faced head tubes made life a lot harder). Ive never greased one yet, it might help reduce any creaking though if the cups arent a snug fit in the frame (old frame which has seen many headsets). If your headset's able to move enough when everything's all tightened down to make any sort of noise, you're probably riding on a pretty munched frame. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liam n Posted December 1, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 1, 2010 DONE IT, used a long bolt to flat peiece of metal and a bolt worked beautifully Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theta2 Posted December 1, 2010 Report Share Posted December 1, 2010 Don't listen to this. If you use a hammer to fit a headset you are unlikely to fit it straight and there is also a good chance you will wreck the frame! Get a bike shop to fit it using the proper tool! Pressing headset cups into frames is one of the only jobs I get the local bike shop to do for me... I work in a bike shop and a guy who has worked there for years told a customer to twat it in with a hammer rather than buy the tool Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forteh Posted December 1, 2010 Report Share Posted December 1, 2010 If your headset's able to move enough when everything's all tightened down to make any sort of noise, you're probably riding on a pretty munched frame. Well yeah naturally, I guess Im going back to my bmx days 15 years ago when flared head tubes and destroyed headsets were much more common, was alot of frame and fork swapping at our trails - RIP wordsley spinney! DONE IT, used a long bolt to flat peiece of metal and a bolt worked beautifully Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sstein Posted December 1, 2010 Report Share Posted December 1, 2010 I work in a bike shop and a guy who has worked there for years told a customer to twat it in with a hammer rather than buy the tool I am a big fan of the hammer technique when done carefully, however the majority of people who have not done it before, or are not careful, or who do not have a correctly reamed headtube can easily damages their frame or headset and it is something that as a mechanic I would never tell a customer to do. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haydon_peter Posted December 2, 2010 Report Share Posted December 2, 2010 I work in a bike shop and a guy who has worked there for years told a customer to twat it in with a hammer rather than buy the toolYou work in a rubbish bike shop then... 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Dunstan Posted December 2, 2010 Report Share Posted December 2, 2010 You work in a rubbish bike shop then... +1 You shouldn't use language like that when serving customers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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