Biking Hiking with Kids

The headset is probably the most difficult part of building a bike from the frame up. There is a tool called the headset press that is specifically made for headsets installations that will make the job easier. But I have been able to install and uninstall a few headsets without the tool. I didn’t want to buy the tool because it is expensive and I don’t think I will use it enough times to justify the cost.

The Park Tool headset press cost about $140.00. I think anyone can do the jobs without the special tool if they just use some care while working and not rush.

Some people will tell you that installing the headset cups should be done with a headset press. Otherwise, you may damage your frame and the cups. Here is a picture of the Park Tool headset press at their website. Basically, the headset press holds the cups in proper alignment over the head tube and then steady pressure is applied by turning the screws to press the cups into the tubs.

Here is a picture of a homemade headset press on the Internet.

There are others if your care to do some searching. But I didn’t bother making the tool after being successful installing my first couple of headsets using a rubber mallet, some grease, a block of wood and a workbench.

If you don’t want to install the headset yourself, you can always take the frame and the headset down to your local bike shop and pay them to put the headset cups in the frame for you. It’s probably a ten-minute job for them since they should have the right tools.

The headset I am installing on the Marin Palisades Trail frame is a used Ritchey that came off another bike.

To install the cups of the headset, I first make sure that the inside of the head tube where the cups will sit is clean. Don’t use your bare finger to run along the metal. You could get cut.

Next I make sure that I have the top cup for the top of the head tube and the bottom cup for the bottom of the head tube. A helpful guide is the usual company logo printed on the cups: If the logo is upside down with the cups installed, than the cups are switched.

Next, I dry fit the cups into the head tube just to check that the cups fit the frame’s head tube. Once I am sure that the cups will fit the head tube, I hand fit the top cup into the tube and hand press the cup down snug into the tube as far as it will go. I make sure the cup is sitting as straight as possible and that one side is not in further that the other side.

Now I rest the bottom of the head tube, the end without a cup yet, firmly on the block of soft wood – pine is good – placed on the workbench. Next I use a rubber mallet to softly tap the cup down into the head tube. The rubber on the mallet is soft enough so that it won’t damage the cup. The block of pine is soft enough not to damage the frame’s head tube.  I try to keep the face of the mallet as flat as possible against the entire rim surface of the cup with every tap.

I check the cup after each tap to make sure that it’s going in the tube straight down and adjust my taps with the mallet to straight it out. I use light taps and go very slow.  Once the top cup is seated completely in the head tube, I turn the frame around and do the same with the bottom cup.

Here is a picture of the finished cups installation on the Marin Palisades Trail frame.

The hardest part of building up the Marin Palisades Trail bike is done. The rest will be fairly easy. Next, I will finish up the headset installation when I install the fork.

Check out pictures of the headset installation on the Marin Palisades Trail Frame.

Check out the star nut installation on the Manitou Bulge FS Ti fork.

Check out the bottom bracket installation on a Marin Palisades Trail Frame

Here is a picture of the built up 2001 Marin Palisades Trail mountain bike.