novelite

Hello,

I'm stripping a frame in preparation for a powdercoating and have been having difficulties removing the headset cups. I've tried twisting, tapping, clamping, etc. Maybe I just haven't used enough old fashioned elbow grease but I can't figure out if the cups are tapped in or if they are threaded. If the latter I don't want to ruin the threading.

Attached is a picture of the head tube on which you can see the two silver cups. This is an 88 World Schwinn frame. Any suggestions about how to proceed are greatly appreciated.

LSG

FreeRidin'

You need a specail tool. Its called a headset cup press i think and they coast like $90. Just take it to your lbs and they will probally do it for free.

And the cup are not threaded, they are just wedged in there real tight

Or you could go all out redneck on it, I got them of mine off by putting a steel block by the edge of it and poundin' er off. Then the lower one I still couldent get so I found steel vaccum attachment pipe of some sort that I stuck though the top but was just the right size that it caught the lip of the headset cup and it then poped right on out. Yes this was all done on my sh*t bike so it dident really matter to me.

kxpedder7

you don't want to damage the cups.

I work in a bike shop, and we use a screw driver and a hammer. Get a nice thick flat-head or chisel and stick it in the head tube of the bike(stick it through the top of the tube to hit out the bottom cup and vise versa), there is a small lip, place it on there, give it a good whack or two, then move to the opposite side of the same cup, just go back and forth, it will start to come loose, don't be affraid to get into it a little.

Then flip the frame upside down, and do the other cup once you get the first one out.

concernicus

i would never go to your shop.

at the shop I work at, and what i would only hope is everywhere else, we use the proper tool:

https://www.parktool.com/products/det...50&item=RT%2D1

take the frame to your LBS (not kxpedder's), and five minutes later it will be done.

Bobby Lex

A headset cup press is used for installing a headset, not removing one.

Concernicus' post shows the proper tool.

Bob

HillRider

The screwdriver/hammer removal technique works fine if you are careful and work around each cup to tap it out evenly. The "Rocket Tool" remover is much faster and less likely to do damage but is a bit much for one job.

San Rensho 

You can also make the tool by finding a piece of light guage tubing that just fits into the head tube. On one end cut two slots about two inches down the legnth of the tube, bend the tabs out slightly, insert the tube into the headset by squeezing the tabs till they clear, push it down to the cup and hit the end of the tube with a hammer.

Hammer and screwdriver (or flat end punch) works very well also.