Finally bit the bullet on a proper bearing press kit

I've been using the old threaded rod and washers trick for headset and bottom bracket bearings for years, but it always felt a bit janky. Last month, a customer brought in a carbon frame and I was too nervous to risk it, so I ordered a specific press kit for about $180. It showed up yesterday and I pressed in a headset on a steel frame today. The whole thing took maybe five minutes, felt completely solid, and I didn't have that little voice in my head worrying about damaging anything. For those who still use the DIY method, when did you decide it was time to get the real tool?

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2 Comments

the_riley5mo ago

Ever worry about that? @matthew703 has a point, but peace of mind is real.

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matthew7035mo ago

Gotta push back a bit here. A threaded rod with proper drifts is totally fine if you know what you're doing. The real risk is misalignment, not the tool itself. That carbon frame fear is understandable, but a careful hand with the old method works just fine. Spending that much cash seems like a solution for a problem that isn't really there for most home mechanics.

2