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Bearing race fitting advice

by sneakerfrfeak
Thu, Nov 07, 2013 17:30
5

So i've just taken delivery of a new frameset to build up over the winter months and was having a look at the headset assembly earlier today. The lower bearing race that fits onto the forks stops short of it's intended position by about half an inch. Some quick research has pointed me in the direction of a crown race seating tool, but i'm just wondering if anyone has any tips/advice on homemade tools or alternatives. Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

If i have to, i'll take to my LBS, but i have a bit of an issue asking them to work on something that i didn't buy from them, especially as they're a dealer for the frameset i bought.....i know what you're going to say, but i got it £600 cheaper and on 24 months 0%, which they don't offer.

If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.

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5 comments

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drfabulous0 | 11 years ago
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It's just a heavy pipe, closed at one end and with the internal edge bevelled at the other. Before I had one used a cutting guide and a bit more force. If you're near Stockport you can use mine.

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sneakerfrfeak replied to drfabulous0 | 11 years ago
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Thanks for your offer drfabulous0 unfortunately i'm in Bath, i'm sure i can cobble together something from bits n bobs in the garage.

At least i now know that they should be a tight fit, i was previously unsure as i recently built a Dolan winter bike and the race just dropped straight down on the fork.

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William Black | 11 years ago
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Have you weighted it/hammered it down yet or is the 1/2 inch just sliding it down?

Whilst probably not recommended by the sort of person who has blue handled spanners, building it up and bouncing on frame till it slams down into position has seated just about every crown race on any bike I've ever built up, it will just wiggle down to the right position.

If the steerer/fork is entirely plastic I would probably take it to the LBS even if I didn't buy it from them, they'll still getting paid for the time.

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sneakerfrfeak replied to William Black | 11 years ago
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Thanks William, that's just sliding it down. It's full carbon so I may go with option two and take it to my LBS. I did read stories of people sliding PVC pipe down over the steerer and giving it a whack, but that scares me.

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William Black replied to sneakerfrfeak | 11 years ago
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sneakerfrfeak wrote:

Thanks William, that's just sliding it down. It's full carbon so I may go with option two and take it to my LBS. I did read stories of people sliding PVC pipe down over the steerer and giving it a whack, but that scares me.

Like the other chap said the proper tool isn't particularly sophisticated.

I'm not an Engineer but if you think about the forces going up a fork hitting a pothole at 20mph, tapping a tube down onto a crown race with hammer is probably nothing in comparison!

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