How do you take a headset off?
Discussion
Right then.
Currenlty dismantling my old FSR and selling off the bits. I want to sell off the forks as they were upgraded recently and i hope to get good money for them.
However, being firmly rooted in the rider camp and not the mechanic one, i dont know how to remove the forks. I have taken the stem off but now (i guess) need to undo the headset to get to the forks.
How do you do it?
Currenlty dismantling my old FSR and selling off the bits. I want to sell off the forks as they were upgraded recently and i hope to get good money for them.
However, being firmly rooted in the rider camp and not the mechanic one, i dont know how to remove the forks. I have taken the stem off but now (i guess) need to undo the headset to get to the forks.
How do you do it?
theboymoon said:
Right then.
Currenlty dismantling my old FSR and selling off the bits. I want to sell off the forks as they were upgraded recently and i hope to get good money for them.
However, being firmly rooted in the rider camp and not the mechanic one, i dont know how to remove the forks. I have taken the stem off but now (i guess) need to undo the headset to get to the forks.
How do you do it?
Currenlty dismantling my old FSR and selling off the bits. I want to sell off the forks as they were upgraded recently and i hope to get good money for them.
However, being firmly rooted in the rider camp and not the mechanic one, i dont know how to remove the forks. I have taken the stem off but now (i guess) need to undo the headset to get to the forks.
How do you do it?
@ Undo...sorry - made me chuckle You either:
Wang it with a flat blade screwdriver until the press fitted cups come out (by hitting the edge of the cup inside the frame) but this has dangerouse pontential to the ham fisted newbie.
Or
Go to your nice friendly bike shop and ask them to do it, shouldn't any more than a few quid if everythings out, as with their tool its dead easy.
However, as for getting them back in - if you don't know what you are doing, bike shop for you.
Hope that helps
Edited by neil_cardiff on Wednesday 18th October 11:22
With an aheadset, where the stem clamps the lot together (I'd be very surprised if you have anything else on there) you just need to knock the forks out.
Once the stem is off there is nothing left to clamp anything together so, using a rubber mallet, knock the top of the fork steerer tube until it frees up.
There is usually a wedged washer that centres the fork in the headset and that can often jam but a good tap should sort it.
Once the forks are out then to get the lower race off the fork crown is normally a case of some gentle persuation with a flat blade screwdriver.
Hope that helps
Once the stem is off there is nothing left to clamp anything together so, using a rubber mallet, knock the top of the fork steerer tube until it frees up.
There is usually a wedged washer that centres the fork in the headset and that can often jam but a good tap should sort it.
Once the forks are out then to get the lower race off the fork crown is normally a case of some gentle persuation with a flat blade screwdriver.
Hope that helps
Edited by matthew_h on Wednesday 18th October 11:25
Ooh, crap, I just read the question wrong - that'll teach me...
Undo everything, take the top cap off, and wang it with a mallet until the forks slide out (remembering to have disconnected the front brake first).
Once out, clean and zip tie all the headset parts to the frame so you don't lose it all.
DOn't worry about getting the star flanged nut out of the forks, leave it for the next chap to use, and get a new one put in the forks you are getting (they only cost a few quid).
Hope that helps. As for removing the headset see my comments above 
Undo everything, take the top cap off, and wang it with a mallet until the forks slide out (remembering to have disconnected the front brake first).
Once out, clean and zip tie all the headset parts to the frame so you don't lose it all.
DOn't worry about getting the star flanged nut out of the forks, leave it for the next chap to use, and get a new one put in the forks you are getting (they only cost a few quid).
Hope that helps. As for removing the headset see my comments above
As someone who has spent a lot of time as a bike mechanic in shops, and also someone who has done lots of home spannering I offer you this advice - the fact that you had to ask, means take it to a bike shop. Im am not being patronising at all, but the headset is a very important press fit, if you bugger up your headtube you need a new frame. Removing, yes you can use a scredriver if your careful, but fitting, no way,
Take a new frame to a shop and get them to fit and ream the headset/tub, face the disc mounts, and face and chase the BB threads.
Take a new frame to a shop and get them to fit and ream the headset/tub, face the disc mounts, and face and chase the BB threads.
snotrag said:
As someone who has spent a lot of time as a bike mechanic in shops, and also someone who has done lots of home spannering I offer you this advice - the fact that you had to ask, means take it to a bike shop. Im am not being patronising at all, but the headset is a very important press fit, if you bugger up your headtube you need a new frame. Removing, yes you can use a scredriver if your careful, but fitting, no way,
Take a new frame to a shop and get them to fit and ream the headset/tub, face the disc mounts, and face and chase the BB threads.
Take a new frame to a shop and get them to fit and ream the headset/tub, face the disc mounts, and face and chase the BB threads.
Thats fair advice - and not taken as patronising!
matthew_h said:
He didn't ask how to remove a headset from the frame though. He only asked how to remove the forks and was given the advice needed to sort this.
Exactly - i just want to get the forks off my old (cracked) frame so i can bung them up on ebay. If the headset stays behind then so be it. I wasn't sure if you needed to take the headset off in order to take the forks out. This last statement of course further illustrates my lack of mechanical knowledge
and therefore makes snotrag's point probably more valid! I'm a rider, not a mechanic and wouldn't even try to spin any yarn otherwise!
Moonie
Edited by theboymoon on Thursday 19th October 09:08
pdV6 said:
On another tack, what forks are you selling?
a set of 105mm Marzocchi 2006 MX Comp Air. They're only 3 months old - still got the box they came in and have the manual and rebound adjuster. Pretty much just run in.
Not exactly top of the range but ph mail me if interested.
Got a set of FOX 36's on the new bike
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