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Headset cup removal problem (lemmy.world)

submitted 1 month ago by calamitycastle@lemmy.world to c/bikewrench@lemmy.world

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Hoping someone can offer some advice. I'm working on a late 80s Raleigh Montage, 88 I think. It has a u-brake on the rear which dates it.

Anyway I have it all stripped down, including the cup and cone bb.

The only thing I can't seem to remove are the headset cups, as the headtube is slightly flared on the inside top and bottom, so I can't get the tool to make contact with the edge of the cup.

What am I missing here? How do I get these out?

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[–] Mr_Blott 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Any pics?

[–] calamitycastle@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Will endeavour to take some pictures or a sketch tomorrow. I can't see how a cup remover can possibly work on this, or what the alternative 'correct' method would be, but I'm a novice for sure. I find it hard to believe that mechanics were tapping these out with screwdrivers but maybe they were!

[–] calamitycastle@lemmy.world 1 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

Here's some pictures - do I just have a crappy removal tool?

https://imgur.com/a/headset-woes-E8uKywr

There's a tiny tiny lip of the cup but no way this tool is going to hit the edge. Worth noting that the quill stem on this is 1mm smaller than usual, it's 21.1mm instead of 22.1 so maybe that's my problem

[–] RubberElectrons@lemmy.world 2 points 4 weeks ago

Hmm. I see what you mean, the cup edge is partially recessed. Something like this may work, but a solid bit of rod will do the trick: https://www.instructables.com/Bicycle-Headset-Cup-Removal-Tool-1/

Try to grip the frame as close to the headset as possible, that way less of your upwards tapping force isn't getting lost to frame flex etc. Dry ice can also help, from local grocery store.

[–] elDalvini@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Can you get a big flathead screwdriver in there to carefully knock it out? It should allow you to get a better angle than the dedicated tool.

Go slowly and alternate the places you're putting the end of the screw driver. You want to push the cup out evenly, or it will jam and possibly deform the head tube.

[–] RubberElectrons@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I've had to do similar for getting mildly press-fit ball bearings out from the inside of my motorcycle wheels.

You're making a tool called a 'drift', so look for a square edged piece of metal, could be a nice steel rod, paired with a light metal-face hammer. Slow and steady.

Doesn't apply here but for general knowledge: any type of impact on ball bearing races turns the bearing into 100% junk, do not reuse that extracted bearing.

[–] calamitycastle@lemmy.world 1 points 4 weeks ago

Posted an imgur link showing what I'm dealing with. Any advice appreciated! I am reticent to resort to the screwdriver, although I can see the logic in small taps in a rotation