headset help atmo -

[e-RICHIE]

do you all have a proven technique for keeping headset cups in plane
so that the logos stay put as the parts are pressed in? lately i seem
to have hit a streak where they rotate ever-so-slightly and it's driving
me FUCKING nuts atmo.

serious replies only.

[crumpton]

do you all have a proven technique for keeping headset cups in plane
so that the logos stay put as the parts are pressed in? lately i seem
to have hit a streak where they rotate ever-so-slightly and it's driving
me FUCKING nuts atmo.

serious replies only.

bearings between the king adapter and the tool, both top and bottom. i snagged em off my old BB facer.

kinda like a thrust bearing like these

[e-RICHIE]

bearings between the king adapter and the tool, both top and bottom. i snagged em off my old BB facer.

rawesome.
the R is silent atmo.

[EnginCycles]

do you all have a proven technique for keeping headset cups in plane
so that the logos stay put as the parts are pressed in? lately i seem
to have hit a streak where they rotate ever-so-slightly and it's driving
me FUCKING nuts atmo.

serious replies only.

VAR headset press has bearings and this is a non issue. Not saying you have it but the Park tool is crap like most of their tools. The campy press is junk also. I have 2 VAR presses and the older one is the one I really like. Nice chrome finish and better handles. Unfortunately the shaft is a bit short and bent (hence the new one). Still better than anything else. The Cyclus stuff looks really nice so maybe the next one will be that.

-Drew

[e-RICHIE]

VAR headset press has bearings and this is a non issue. Not saying you have it but the Park tool is crap like most of their tools. The campy press is junk also. I have 2 VAR presses and the older one is the one I really like. Nice chrome finish and better handles. Unfortunately the shaft is a bit short and bent (hence the new one). Still better than anything else. The Cyclus stuff looks really nice so maybe the next one will be that.

-Drew

i use a campagnolo AND a var tool with the special c king inserts atmo.

[crumpton]

i use a campagnolo AND a var tool with the special c king inserts atmo.

me three and the old tools don't have the bearing.

[e-RICHIE]

me three and the old tools don't have the bearing.

so a bearing or ANY spacer of sorts will suffice atmo?

[EnginCycles]

me three and the old tools don't have the bearing.

My older one is about 16 years old. The one with light blue vinyl covered handles and the chrome finish. It had the bearing up top and I added the lower bearing so I could install top and bottom at once. Maybe 16 years does not qualify for OLD:)

-Drew

[EnginCycles]

so a bearing or ANY spacer of sorts will suffice atmo?

http://www.mcmaster.com/#thrust-bearings/=3v3jvg

[crumpton]

so a bearing or ANY spacer of sorts will suffice atmo?

i would think you need a bearing.

[crumpton]

My older one is about 16 years old. The one with light blue vinyl covered handles and the chrome finish. It had the bearing up top and I added the lower bearing so I could install top and bottom at once. Maybe 16 years does not qualify for OLD:)

-Drew

my var is a good 25yo

[Eric Estlund]

I just keep a hand on the cup till there is enough downward pressure that the cup seats. They don't seem to rotate once started. You can always load one cup at a time need be.

[b.jenks]

I had the same problem years ago. My Hozan has thrust bearings like in the picture Nick posted above, and as in Drew's McMaster link, but they were always falling apart every time I picked up the tool. Since then I've used a Bringheli which didn't come with a bearing (now they do). I checked around with local bearing distributors until I found a cartridge thrust bearing with the right ID. It's worked like butter since. (Only one bearing - on top - still have to hold the bottom stationary.)

It was surprisingly difficult to find a cartridge thrust bearing in the right size, but so worth the effort.

[conorb]

VAR headset press has bearings and this is a non issue. Not saying you have it but the Park tool is crap like most of their tools. The campy press is junk also. I have 2 VAR presses and the older one is the one I really like. Nice chrome finish and better handles. Unfortunately the shaft is a bit short and bent (hence the new one). Still better than anything else. The Cyclus stuff looks really nice so maybe the next one will be that.

-Drew

We have the Cyclus tool and it works really well for us. Never had a cup rotation problem.

One extra data point.

Conor

[JFW]

A good friend of mine designed and had made a small batch of high quality headset presses a couple of years ago. The thing with these are that they use a high quality (SKF) thrust bearing, so installing even the CK Steelset and other DH-style headsets can be done with very little power and a high degree of control. Rotating cups is not an issue whatsoever. Oh, and they're designed to press the CK bearings correctly, so no need for adaptors.

Here's a picture of the Wettre-press:



Truls

[conorb]

A good friend of mine designed and had made a small batch of high quality headset presses a couple of years ago. The thing with these are that they use a high quality (SKF) thrust bearing, so installing even the CK Steelset and other DH-style headsets can be done with very little power and a high degree of control. Rotating cups is not an issue whatsoever. Oh, and they're designed to press the CK bearings correctly, so no need for adaptors.

Here's a picture of the Wettre-press:



Truls

That looks very nice. Thanks for the pointer.

Conor

[e.Gellie]

I have a Cyclus headset press, which has the thrust bearing and it works great! You can see the bearing and races in this picture courtesy of Ceeway. The bearing and races look just like the middle set on that McMaster Carr link. The shaft diameter is smaller than a Park tool I've used so the Chris King adaptors needed a sleeve...not sure if Cyclus is available in USA...
Ewen

[cicli polito]

another data point: i use an EVT press, and do not have any problems with the shimmy shake.

[cement shoes]

I've got a Bringheli press. It has two small retainers running roller bearings so the pieces contacting the headset cups and the cups themselves don't rotate. I also do like Mr. Estlund suggested and keep an eye on the cups as I begin pressing. When I wrenched back in the day, the shop had VAR tools, which were really nice. Not sure where one can get those anymore.

[cardinal]

Best headset press ever: EVT. Made in a guys small shop in his garage (sound familiar?). The single most coolest feature on this tool is the vise grip lower cup holder (of course it has thrust bearings to keep cups perfectly aligned). It makes perfect sense once you use one. Trust me, try it and you will never want anything else. I've used everything else out there. EV-M-F-ing-T!