I'm a bike mechanic with access to the Park crown race extractor and I still use the utility blade method for stubborn crown races. One note though, I have seen the blades shatter as they are a very hard but relatively brittle metal so make sure you're wearing safety glasses!
Awesome hack that I can use this winter. This past fall I performed a senior citizen upgrade to my 1994 Bridgestone RB1: new stem and riser road bar 45 cm wide and slightly flared at the drops, which are now much easier to reach and use. I have a beautiful Campy Chorus headset on my old touring bike that belongs on my newly improved RB1! My friendly bike shop will pop out the head tube cups for me, but now I can remove the crown races myself. My old homemade 1 inch headset press will help me get everything back together. I made it 40 years ago from and old vacuum cleaner extension tube.
Right, good point. I’ve done it before when we were building Paul’s 90’s hardrock. Obviously it only works with sealed cartridge headsets. Not sure if there’s a downside really.
I have been using a sharp wood chisel to carefully go around the crown race and work it off - similar to using razor blades. I like the razor blade idea, since not everybody has a sharp chisel!
Nice trick. I also use a can of air flipped upside down to chill the tube from the inside follow with heat gun on the race. This can help break any crevasse corrosion if the grease and been washed out. I also heat up the race when installing. Not too hot so the PVC pipe is not melted. :)
funny, my FOX fork has a little opening underneath where a flat head screw driver can fit into. I just pry it up gently and then carefully circle about the race crown with the flat head.
Great hack, thank you . Not sure why all sealed bearing headset don’t come with a split race. Unless it’s a loose ball bearing headset- I don’t believe the press fit race is needed.
So long as you don't let the blade contact the steerer tube, it's just a wedge. But best to swap out for gradually thicker wedges, like a butter knife, flatblade screwdriver, etc. If you're gentle enough not to mark the surface then you won't damage the layers underneath either
I love this hack. I am also like Temu or like for specialty tools 😮that I will use once or twice a year. Fan guy of Park tools that get use all time when I need long life and tight tolerances.
I would be quite anxious to use this blade method on a carbon steerer fork, at least superficially cutting perpendicularly to the fibres. At least as long as I'm not sure there is an alloy protection collar at The crown. Would you agree?
Cool trick to have up your sleeve, but I am gonna orde myself the tool for it. Not the stupidly expensive Park Tools one of course, but a < 10 dollar Ali Express one. Will be more than good enough for the occasional fork swaps I do.
Cant remember the last time i saw a solid crown race they are usually split. If yours isnt split then there is an indent in the fork crown…..this is for a small pry bar (or flat screwdriver if you go ghetto) No need to junk a full pack of blades just use the design feature the OEM provided
@ bro, you’re using a 16oz carpenters hammer to beat on a tolerance fit crown and i mean the fork crown not the race which should pop off its 2 thou fit with one tap of a plastic mallet. You’re gunna deform steerers which is why the race puller exists and thats coming from “this guy” who has a masters degree in engineering and cytech certificates that i passed in my lunch hour for fun.
I'm a bike mechanic with access to the Park crown race extractor and I still use the utility blade method for stubborn crown races. One note though, I have seen the blades shatter as they are a very hard but relatively brittle metal so make sure you're wearing safety glasses!
Came here to say this, these blades are not great with impact so be careful everyone!!! ⚠️
Stuck race and many broken blades later, it doesn't always work
That fork crown race removal tip is worth a comment! Nice one!
This is a new one for me as a mechanic for over 20 years! Thanks for this trick!
I appreciate such DIY solutions in lieu of buying expensive tools for infrequent situations. Thanks.
Damn that's clever. Worked great for me!
Awesome hack that I can use this winter. This past fall I performed a senior citizen upgrade to my 1994 Bridgestone RB1: new stem and riser road bar 45 cm wide and slightly flared at the drops, which are now much easier to reach and use. I have a beautiful Campy Chorus headset on my old touring bike that belongs on my newly improved RB1! My friendly bike shop will pop out the head tube cups for me, but now I can remove the crown races myself. My old homemade 1 inch headset press will help me get everything back together. I made it 40 years ago from and old vacuum cleaner extension tube.
Thank you for that tip for the crown race removal. I wish I would've thought of it long ago but I know it now!
Always fun to see a some good improvised tools.
Any thoughts on adding a split with a hacksaw or Dremel to the crown race to make them easier to install and remove?
Right, good point. I’ve done it before when we were building Paul’s 90’s hardrock. Obviously it only works with sealed cartridge headsets. Not sure if there’s a downside really.
I have been using a sharp wood chisel to carefully go around the crown race and work it off - similar to using razor blades. I like the razor blade idea, since not everybody has a sharp chisel!
This was ‘ghetto fabulous’! Love it and thanks.
😆
Nice trick. I also use a can of air flipped upside down to chill the tube from the inside follow with heat gun on the race. This can help break any crevasse corrosion if the grease and been washed out. I also heat up the race when installing. Not too hot so the PVC pipe is not melted. :)
Great tip. I am guessing you wouldn’t do this with a carbon steerer?
Right. Can’t recommend doing that.
funny, my FOX fork has a little opening underneath where a flat head screw driver can fit into. I just pry it up gently and then carefully circle about the race crown with the flat head.
Appreciate this. I just bought a RockShox Rudy XPLR. This has been very helpful!
Great hack, thank you . Not sure why all sealed bearing headset don’t come with a split race. Unless it’s a loose ball bearing headset- I don’t believe the press fit race is needed.
Great timing! Just got a brand new fork!
I like the recent wardrobe choices.
😆 🟦🟨🟦🟨🟦🟨🤘
Dig that hoodie out from my closet bc my go-to one got messed up
Very helpful. Thank you so much for sharing.
Great vid but would this method be safe for a carbon steerer tube?
So long as you don't let the blade contact the steerer tube, it's just a wedge. But best to swap out for gradually thicker wedges, like a butter knife, flatblade screwdriver, etc.
If you're gentle enough not to mark the surface then you won't damage the layers underneath either
@galenkehler Ok thanks 👍
I’d be careful with this option on carbon steerer. You could pre-dull the blades so they’re not as sharp
I love this hack. I am also like Temu or like for specialty tools 😮that I will use once or twice a year. Fan guy of Park tools that get use all time when I need long life and tight tolerances.
Great timing for me, thanks for sharing. Do you have the link to the fork steerer / star nut video?
Still making the video 😆. Will link when it’s uploaded
Clever. And it's well timed, because I'm about to do this.
Thanks a bunch. Really helpful tips 👍
I would be quite anxious to use this blade method on a carbon steerer fork, at least superficially cutting perpendicularly to the fibres.
At least as long as I'm not sure there is an alloy protection collar at The crown.
Would you agree?
I suppose. If it’s straight carbon, I wouldn’t recommend.
Great hack. Thanks for sharing!
just a got a new Rodeo Labs spork today and the struggle is real trying to get the race down the last little bit.
Interesting video, something I hadn’t thought of.
To fit the race I use poly pipe as well but turn it upside down and tap it on the floor, no damage to the fork and using self weight
This is a really good tip. Every time I’ve set a crown race I think about how the rest of the fork will be impacted, trying this on the next one!
I’ve heard that referred to as the cave man method for crown race setting.
Crux review / impression video coming Nolan?
Cool trick to have up your sleeve, but I am gonna orde myself the tool for it.
Not the stupidly expensive Park Tools one of course, but a < 10 dollar Ali Express one. Will be more than good enough for the occasional fork swaps I do.
Genius!
Prob speaking out f place..but maybe going to 3 and 9 oclock after going 6 and 12 might make it a few taps easier. Great vid
It’s a good idea, but then you’d have to hold the fork on its side, which gets a bit awkward.
Cant remember the last time i saw a solid crown race they are usually split. If yours isnt split then there is an indent in the fork crown…..this is for a small pry bar (or flat screwdriver if you go ghetto)
No need to junk a full pack of blades just use the design feature the OEM provided
You’ve never bent a race using a screwdriver as a pry bar?
Nope, but then I’ve never taken a claw hammer and razor sharp steel to an aluminium steerer tube either ‘cos ya know im not stupid
Oi this guy.. 🤦🏻♂️
@ bro, you’re using a 16oz carpenters hammer to beat on a tolerance fit crown and i mean the fork crown not the race which should pop off its 2 thou fit with one tap of a plastic mallet. You’re gunna deform steerers which is why the race puller exists and thats coming from “this guy” who has a masters degree in engineering and cytech certificates that i passed in my lunch hour for fun.
I love it!
holy shit dude im gonna use this to open all sorts of shit lol
😆😆
Adjustable spanner and hammer for putting on.
Great tip. Thandk
The paranoid part of me worry about the razor blade scoring the aluminum steerer tube, causing "stress risers".
Ssssh 🤫 you’re making him look bad
Split-style Crown Race gang forever
It’s revolutionary
What about carbon?
Not advised
Go Bears! 🙂
I bought a Bikehand tool for this, but it is a bit finicky. This approach actually seems simpler and faster. Nice!
This video has been brought to you by Park Tools.
I don't know - with a workshop like that - why not using a proper tool ? And when you incounter a carbon shaft - I would not use those blade at all -
Haha, I don’t have the proper tool. Yea, no go for carbon steerer