Which Headset

Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.

wam68

Senior Member
Guys,

I'm in the market for a new head set press and was looking at several. Some are near £200 and others around £40. From what I've seen the Cyclo and Cyclus tools do more or less the same thing yet there is a huge price difference. I like both makes and have lots of tools in their respective ranges so know they are good quality. Anyone had any experience with these headsets and why the price difference.I want them to fit press fits as well etc etc. Any advice or previous experience would be appreciated
 

PpPete

Legendary Member
Worth buying the pukka tools for the crown race maybe, but for pressing races into the frame:
Length of threaded rod, appropriate nuts and selection of BIG washers.
£40?
 
OP
OP
wam68

wam68

Senior Member
Worth buying the pukka tools for the crown race maybe, but for pressing races into the frame:
Length of threaded rod, appropriate nuts and selection of BIG washers.
£40?
Cheers PpPete and appreciate the reply.
Understand where you and T. M. H. E. T are coming from and wish I had your confidence in making something like that. I would be terrified of making a hash of associates bikes. I have been reading up on both and the Cyclo seems ahead however I think I'll just take the plunge and buy the Cyclus headset tool which is the cheaper of the two and the Shimano BB30 fitting tool after all a fool and his money are easy parted. Thanks once again.:thumbsup:
 

Poacher

Gravitationally challenged member
I recently fitted a Stronglight A9 alu headset to my newly repainted Sid Standard. Having initially considered the brute force and ignorance approach, I realised how easy it would be to make a mess of the races and bought the Cyclus press and crown race tools from Rosebikes. I even bought a spare steel A9 in case I still managed to mess up the alu one. My only regret is that I didn't wait until yesterday, when free postage applied! Brute force and knowledge work just fine, but for an ignoramus like me the reassurance of using tools designed for the job won out.
 
OP
OP
wam68

wam68

Senior Member
I recently fitted a Stronglight A9 alu headset to my newly repainted Sid Standard. Having initially considered the brute force and ignorance approach, I realised how easy it would be to make a mess of the races and bought the Cyclus press and crown race tools from Rosebikes. I even bought a spare steel A9 in case I still managed to mess up the alu one. My only regret is that I didn't wait until yesterday, when free postage applied! Brute force and knowledge work just fine, but for an ignoramus like me the reassurance of using tools designed for the job won out.
Poacher, Good to hear that I'm not alone. Regards
 

apb

Veteran
Wooden or plastic mallet has installed all my headsets, a piece of tube & a hammer for the crown race, the last one I warmed with a blow torch, it dropped on,

likewise!

i sometimes just let the various potholes around edinburgh to properly seat my crown race.
 

compo

Veteran
I fitted a new headset today on a Peugeot. I couldn't get the crown race to seat. While out walking the dog to have a rest from the blasted thing I came upon a dumped vacuum cleaner. The thick plastic pipe to the vacuum cleaner head made a perfect drift. A couple of good smacks with the hammer soon seated the race.
 
Last edited:

Spoked Wheels

Legendary Member
I bought the cyclus headset presser for £24 two years ago. It's very good and since it's, technically, such a simple job, I don't see the need to spend £200 on such a tool.
I also bought the tool to remove headset cups for £10. I like tools so I'm always on the look out for something I might need at some point.
 

Cubist

Still wavin'
Use a junior hacksaw to split the crown race and you can swap it between forks. Or buy a split one in the first place. Otherwise plastic pipe as a slide hammer. I have to seat a crown race reducer today, so I'm waiting for Mrs Cube to go to work so I can use the Hoover attachment.

Headset cups? Piece of wood and a hammer seats them nicely. You do have to make sure they are going in straight though!
Threaded rod and washers for BB bearings and hubs. Big sockets for seating fork seals etc.
 
OP
OP
wam68

wam68

Senior Member
I bought the cyclus headset presser for £24 two years ago. It's very good and since it's, technically, such a simple job, I don't see the need to spend £200 on such a tool.
I also bought the tool to remove headset cups for £10. I like tools so I'm always on the look out for something I might need at some point.
Bought the Cyclus tools today and the Shimano BB30 fitting tool, Paid slightly ( a lot ) more than your good self but like having them as they make the task so much easier. Thanks to everyone for their advice.
 

Spoked Wheels

Legendary Member
Bought the Cyclus tools today and the Shimano BB30 fitting tool, Paid slightly ( a lot ) more than your good self but like having them as they make the task so much easier. Thanks to everyone for their advice.

Sometimes you can build or botch a tool and that works very well and it's very satisfying but I like tools so I buy those that aren't too expensive and I can get my money back. Asking you LBS to fit a headset probably cost £15 - I've fitted 3 since I got mine. So I'm happy with the investment. A friend borrowed it to fit a headset on an expensive frame.... he was going to do it with a home made version which was probably okay but I offered mine cause it would be a shame if that went wrong :smile:
 
Top Bottom