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Are these fork/stem races removeable? Worth the trouble?

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Are these fork/stem races removeable? Worth the trouble?

Old 04-05-21, 04:39 PM
  #1  
flyagaricus
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Are these fork/stem races removeable? Worth the trouble?

I would like to remove the aluminum races from the frame so I can clean/polish them. I think they're are quite likely stuck, if they're even removeable at al. I don't want to risk damaging them if removal is too difficult.

Thoughts?

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Old 04-05-21, 05:36 PM
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I suspect that they are steel, judging by the red rust. Check with a magnet.
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Old 04-05-21, 05:39 PM
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Originally Posted by dsbrantjr
I suspect that they are steel, judging by the red rust. Check with a magnet.
They are indeed steel. I thought maybe the rust came down out of the frame. Either way, removal suggestions?
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Old 04-05-21, 05:41 PM
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Those are headset cups, there is a specific tool used to hammer them out so that pressure is applied evenly all the way around.

If you don't have access to such a tool or don't want to make your own. You can use a large flat head screw driver and hammer to tap out the cups. However, if you remove the cups, the bigger problem is getting them seated again or pressed back into your frame.

Please, do a google search on on 1) headset cup removal and 2) headset cup installation. Better yet, watch some youtube videos.

If you don't know what you are doing, you can damage your bike/parts.
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Old 04-05-21, 05:45 PM
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Never Fix A Running Piece. I am not sure what you could do in the way of cleaning/polishing the cups after removal that you could not do in situ.
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Old 04-05-21, 05:47 PM
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Originally Posted by dsbrantjr
Never Fix A Running Piece. I am not sure what you could do in the way of cleaning/polishing the cups after removal that you could not do in situ.
I'm going to be doing some paint touchups on the frame and figured I'd polish those cups as well.
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Old 04-05-21, 05:54 PM
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Just google search 'headset cup removal'...you'll get thousands of results in a fraction of a second. It's easy w/ the correct tool.
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Old 04-05-21, 05:55 PM
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Originally Posted by *Scuba
Those are headset cups, there is a specific tool used to hammer them out so that pressure is applied evenly all the way around.

If you don't have access to such a tool or don't want to make your own. You can use a large flat head screw driver and hammer to tap out the cups. However, if you remove the cups, the bigger problem is getting them seated again or pressed back into your frame.

Please, do a google search on on 1) headset cup removal and 2) headset cup installation. Better yet, watch some youtube videos.

If you don't know what you are doing, you can damage your bike/parts.
Thanks, yeah I didn't know what they were called. Noob here.
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Old 04-05-21, 07:30 PM
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Originally Posted by cxwrench
Just google search 'headset cup removal'...you'll get thousands of results in a fraction of a second. It's easy w/ the correct tool.
Yes, easy with the "correct tool."

But keep in mind you'll need another "correct tool" to reinstall them properly.

If the goal is merely to remove the surface rust for cosmetic reasons, leave them in place and rub with crumpled aluminum foil or a scotch-brite™ pad to get rid of the rust.
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Old 04-05-21, 08:36 PM
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Mask off the headtube to protect it and polish the cups while they are still installed. You will not get them any cleaner by removing them from the headtube - the only part that is inaccessible is the part of the cups that are pressed against the inside of the headtube, and you don't want to polish that anyway. You also risk damage to the cups and frame if you do not have the proper removal and re-installation tools.
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Old 04-06-21, 07:24 AM
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Try water and aluminum foil rub down on the rust, that should do the trick.
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Old 04-06-21, 08:52 AM
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There are homemade tools that can accomplish the removal and installation of the cups. One source is RJ the bike guy on youtube. I used his tool ideas for that, and they worked OK. You just need to take your time and make sure things are progressing properly. However, I did end up buying a removal tool and a headset press as I had other bikes to do. I bought both tools during a sale at Chain Reaction Cycles.com. IIRC, it was about $80 usd for both. The prices have gone up since I purchased. If this is a onetime deal, the cost is probably not worth it.

As stated above, I think you could accomplish what you want without removing the cups. If you are just touching up the paint on the frame, no need to remove the cups.
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