How To Make A Headset Cup Remover Tool

This is my homemade tool to remove headset bearing cups from a bike frame. This is similar to the Park Tool RT-1 Head Cup Remover tool. It cost about $3 to make. I made it from a piece of 3/4" electrical conduit that I bought at the hardware store. The only tools used to make it were a vise, hack saw, and a file to smooth the burrs. I have seen some people make them from copper pipes, but the price of copper has gone up, so copper pipes are not cheap anymore.
Here is the Park Tool version:
www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASI...
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[@theoutlaw_56]

Dude, I friggin' love the DIY tools you make. As a bike messenger and bike mecanic enthousiast I just can't afford everything at the moment but I slowly buy some tools. Sometimes, I just need the tool for a one time use so no way I will pay full price for that. The headset cup press saved my ass only 12$ compared to a 200$ one. Thanks a lot for those tips.

[@coelhjo]

RJ, you saved my ass AGAIN. Sure, I could have ordered the tool online, and waited a week for it to get here. Instead, I went into my shop, found a workable piece of tubing and was done in 5 minutes.

[@carveyparker80]

Ok update: I thought I would have time the night of my original post. I used this tool tonight and it worked like a charm!! The tube was $4.47 from Home Depot. Thank you! Putting the the headset on tomorrow. Will comment on your headset video.

[@martynredgate1612]

I'm currently building my first road bike and found the shop bought tools far too expensive for what they are. This is brilliant and works a treat. Thanks from the U.K.

[@markyoung5336]

I made one of these using (in my case) and an 8" piece of PVC tubing. I followed your instructions for the pipe and spread the PVC out. I fed it up the HeadTube, heard the click and tapped the headset out. Thanks for the inspiration!. I made the headset press/rear wheel dropout spreader too... Saved me a lot of time and $$

[@luckyram3461]

Wonderful tool RJ , 5 stars for you , I have learnt so much watching all ur bike vids . Keep on the good job. Best regards Luckyram from Bristol U.K.

[@mrupholsteryman]

Definitely doing this! Went to the local bike shop and was asking them a few questions...I was willing to buy the tool...but they said they couldn't sell it and that they would refer me to Park Tools to buy from them....this is right up my alley! Thanks for sharing!

[@Toto-is8ci]

Excellent! Thanks. Also the Press is great too. I used your dropout spreader just a couple of weeks ago and it was perfect. You are the most helpful site on YT for work on bikes!

[@dennismicallef9350]

I was just about to order the park tool bb 90.3. Figured I should have a look on youtube for an alternative. Sure enough, RJ helped me out. I used an old mtb handle bar cut down to just 6". I removed my PF BB in no time!

[@pipwerks]

So simple but so effective. I was stuck for days trying to get these old cups out, then tried your technique (took ~5 mins to make the tool) and BAM! Done. Thanks!

[@Ryan-lf5ki]

Just did this, worked like a charm. I am working on my 4th bike rebuild, thanks for all your videos!

[@reednelson6030]

Best bike videos I've seen on KZbin, thanks for sharing!

[@MarkCasimes]

RJ, Thank you Sir! Worked amazingly well on Honda XR400R. For those who want to know, I tried using a long punch. Races were already shot. Three hits in and no movement. Built the tool. Two hits ..success. Repeat other side, done. I will be watching for other tips. Thanks again! Mark

[@johnnyhatesjazz7434]

Perfect alternative to expensive tool. Thank you

[@aaronslusher9531]

That was ingenious! (it also gave me a great excuse to purchase an angle grinder, as I was not going to hacksaw through it all!) Thank you for all of your videos, they are a great help to novices, like me, who want to get better!

[@capedoryus]

Once again perfect. Thanks for taking the time to share your experience.

[@steverabson4049]

Thanks for the tip. Just made one out of 25mm Copper pipe to remove a stuck BBR60 Bottom Bracket inner dust sleeve. Worked a treat.

[@billjohnson3418]

R.J. thanks for the tip! I saw you made this on another video of yours. I'm on a budget of very little and this helps me to have the right tool so I can fix my bikes!

[@mattb1311]

Great idea, thanks for sharing! Made mine out of old cut down drop handlebars.

[@matiasbenavidesdigitalvisu9511]

wow impresive, this works for my PF bottom bracket too

[@andrewrafter6759]

great video, tool worked perfectly. Old headset is out. Time to make a diy press to install the new one. Will be following your video on that topic as well!

[@17fourU]

Oh man. I was literally trying to to figure out how to remove the headset cups on my 1996 Hardrock. This video has been a sanity saver. Thank you! I love all of your other videos, too.

[@DMcTyke]

Excellent, thanks for sharing. I have just produced my own from a straight section of frame from an old tubular steel chair that was destined for scrap

[@nickdavis9280]

Great idea! I made one this morning and it works perfectly, just like that.

[@hendy4584]

Cheers for this RJ. Made mine out of an old seat post.

[@TheKlazar92]

You are great man, after this video I will save a money and make that tool easily, not so many bike mechanics will be that honest as you, thanks a lot.

[@steveohtoys]

I like how you showed the remover snapping into place.

[@petecurran3995]

Ingenious! Thanks, RJ. 👍🏻

[@Antiwasserstoff]

I am actually restoring an older bike and have/had to replace the headset and was kind of shocked when i saw the prices for that Tool. So i just headed to the nearest metalworker and asked if they got some leftoverjunk.. And i've found the perfect piece of tube, for free!

[@captainbungee]

I just tried this trick using a rusty old chrome seat post. Too lazy to hacksaw - 4 cuts with an angle grinder does it nicely and it works a trick - Thanks for the tip RJ.

[@fiveonomo]

This is great stuff! Thank you. I am enjoying your videos, please keep them coming.

[@marq347]

Super helpful! Love the homemade tools

[@calveinsileutte7980]

Thank you for your creativity human.

[@carveyparker80]

Just got the conduit. Doing this tonight and will let you know how it goes. Thank you!

[@AdamDemas]

NICE!!! You just saved me about $50 for the one they want for my crank bearings! Thanks!

[@DK-sj2ph]

Beautiful work mate, genuine genius 👍

[@carveyparker80]

Head Set is on and I am bike to Riding! Installed a Crane Creek Forty Headset on my 2010 Trek 3500! Thank you!!

[@erikhaakmeester4559]

I'll make this one to remove my pressfit bottom bracket. Thanks for the tip.

[@anthonylewis4473]

Cheers RJ I made one today took about 40 mins that included welding a bolt to the end and grinding it smooth 👍saved me £34 fella. 😀

[@william385]

out standing idea you gave me and saved money thanks again good job .from Alaska .

[@JoeJosephKaniparampil]

Thanks RJ for the innovative idea.😊

[@nicholasdavidson5683]

Great idea :) Just subscribed yesterday. Searched "choosing the right headset cup tool" came up with this video. Sweet now i dont have to spend so much time waiting to afford the tool :)

[@JimSowers]

Cool & Creative!

[@rjmallette]

Worked perfectly for me. Great video!

[@Corfine]

you are very smart know everything about bikes

[@mkdsctt]

Great! Thank you!

[@TheCamaro1987]

Thanks. Made one today and it works great!

[@douglashair5386]

Thank you for all your awesome information on how to fix a bicycle 🚲. I am restoring a bike E. Recombinant bicycle. My brother gave it to me. And he since past away from Covid. So this bike is precious to me. So thanks for all your videos they have been alot of help.

[@SuperOlds88]

That tool is now between 20.00 and 40.00 on Amazon so this is a great savings. I like making homemade tools too. Thank you.

[@grxanm1]

Brilliant! I'm doing this today.

[@dw6549]

worked a treat, thank you

[@bobstevens9040]

Great video RJ. I'm gonna make one

[@GoreINHUMANREMNANTS]

Awesome great job thanks.

[@michaelhoste_]

Wow. Just wow.

[@VegasCyclingFreak]

That's a clever DIY tool.

[@jackthehatuk]

Nice one mate! Thanks.

[@chuffa1130]

Yeah thank you, definitely some good information and life-saving was going to take it to a shop but it doesn't look as insane though you do it I'll give it a shot

[@hrhbucket4268]

Great tool. I plan to make one next summer. I just bought a threaded headset (for an old bike). I am hoping to use the existing cups as it is only the crown race and the bearings that are gone. If this is not possible I will make one of these tools. I will also have to make the tool to fit the cups (shown in another video). Thanks. Your channel is one of my favourites (Ben in UK).

[@sross148]

ace. This worked so easily. Took about 5 minutes to make the tool and 20 seconds to remove both cups. thank you! For $8 I got 10ft of 3/4 conduit. Could make 10 of these tools for 80 cents each, LOL, not $30+ like the dealers sell.

[@havefunandbikestuff]

RJ Mahalo for this diy!😀

[@31acruz]

good job! great tip!

[@andrew.triggs]

Awesome video!

[@YULABEBE]

Awesome. Thanks.

[@mikenoonan4718]

Great how to!

[@Lehmann108]

Brilliant!

[@ArmTheCreative]

PERFECTION

[@kekkorr]

Good job guy

[@jehd2954]

Very nice. I am doing this in a few days.

[@verdeboyo]

Great stuff. I won't even waste my money buying one now

[@lesleymoddleton2287]

BRILLIANT

[@davidj1436]

If you know an electrician or work construction, that is a throwaway scrap. And if a bandsaw is accessible it makes it all the easier. Thanks for saving me $30!

[@edwardyue1615]

I just went to the local big box hardware store and bought a 5ft steel conduit (they didn't have anything shorter) and made it the RJ way. I could make a couple more with the leftover section and sell them on CL and make my money back!

[@Dr4g0nW00d]

nice video now i know what they use it for thnxs

[@ignaciotorojimenez7042]

works nicely! great tutorial ;)

[@rick1969ful]

Thanks for the idea . I made one out of a aluminium mop handle, and it worked . Well happy ;-)

[@tubularmonkeymaniac]

Dude you rock.

[@kittukittu3665]

Great tool 👍, I use it 😎👍👍👍

[@peterdonnelly6804]

I'm using a seat post, it's wider than your pipe but it does fit in the steering tube. It will need to be flared out a bit less. Great tip 👍 thanks

[@828Army]

thank you thank you soo much for the video.

[@gabrielrjullier7409]

Good video, thanks. Is very usefull for me.

[@dblaps]

Thanks

[@tubenachos]

I also used flat head driver and hammer tapping both sides of the cup alternatively. Worked great but not as quick as yours 😄

[@206coconutz]

I didn't have any conduit on hand or a recycled source so $2.99 for a 5' section at the hardware and 10 minutes with a hacksaw produced exactly what I was after. works like a charm. Sorry Park, I love your tools but my pockets aren't as deep as they used to be. Thanks for posting shyflirt1 !

[@yecobs]

Good looking sloats!

[@jacksondtalton5028]

Awesome

[@jonestizmo1872]

Someone suggested in the comment section of using seatpost and it worked for me! I have few seatposts and sacrificed a rusty one. Worked perfect. Also like somebody mentioned, it was a good excuse to buy an angle grinder. Thanks a lot. My next try is to build Cup Press and crown race ''installer'.'

[@jonestizmo1872]

Cup press worked :) I used M10 rod with its washer and bolts. Worked just fine though it didn't take too much effort to press the cups. Not sure if i bought correct size. Or perhaps not good quality? Anyway, i don't have any issue when i ride my bike after the headset assembly. I put cool neon green spacer and feeling so great. It was my first time to replace threadless headset. Thanks again RJ. Now the final one is crown race pipe :)

[@elicamachosalas]

Thanks!

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

Thank you!

[@kvmods]

build one, out of some piece of stainless steel that i hay laying around. nice job man ;) keep up the good work

[@danzirulez]

RJ, do you think I could use something similar from a smaller tube and use it to remove bearings from an integrated BB? Like the FSA Mega Exo 6000 series? I could just replace the bearings, grease 'em up and ready to go. Use the bolt metod to press the new ones in after freezing them...

[@RZEZZZ]

Genius.

[@rolandberendonck3900]

Until now I have used a copper pipe to knock these out. Worked for me, but I will be an owner of such a tool quite soon.

[@ojermsscratchers7101]

Hey I made mine out of an old shower rod haha but it worked perfectly! Thanks for saving me $30! I rebuilding an old junky Sears free Spirit as a fun little project. Wish me luck!

[@matthewmendez9093]

good luck!

[@wodstalker2819]

Is that the same dimensions for PF bottom braket ?

[@neilfroggycrompton2466]

seriously clever,i used to use a very long punch which took a lot longer & more effort as you need to knock it out evenly so it doesn't get mangled,do you think this would work on bottom bracket cups too,would need a wider diameter tube though,right?,love your work RJ,simple ideas once again work the best :)

[@the_blair_bike_project]

I was able to remove my headset cup with a 3/4" pvc tube without flaring it. Couple gentle taps with a wooden mallets and cups popped out. Getting the new ones in was another story.

[@WattWireNet]

Interesting...PVC would be a better material. I'll be you could flare it by making the same cuts and then driving a nut or something down it. Now that think about it, a long bolt & nut would work...tightened with a socket wrench. That way more even pressure would be applied in the event you wanted to reuse / service the bearings.

[@the_blair_bike_project]

@@WattWireNet pvc is also very pliable with a little heat from a heat gun. Look up pvc bow. So you could make the cuts, apply a little heat and drive a wedge or something to flare them. Once cooled it retains its original stiffness.

[@WattWireNet]

@@the_blair_bike_project Thanks!..you're right, I forgot about the nature of plastic ...much easier to use a little heat. FYI, that Park tool now costs around $40 ...so this is going to be quite a savings for me and anyone else who watches this.

[@goldenretriever6261]

Cool, I am going to make this to use as a BBT90 tool. The Park tool is $50, . Thanks

[@macario1983]

Golden Retriever did you do?

[@joshsutcliffe6099]

Would it work on a motorcycle steering head race?

[@JeffersonAleman]

That's a good one. I have a couple pvc pipes for setting crown races. One for tapered and one for straight steerers. I suspect I got the idea from you. Do you a video about that?

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/b3iYg2tjps6nna8

[@dragostalks7501]

I used a similar solution. For the pipe I bought a cheap seat tube for $2. This was my second try. First, I went to the general hardware store and bought an aluminium pipe but after extracting some cups, that aluminium proved too soft on the impact edges and bent too much. Now the problem with the steel one seems to be corosion on those cuts. I should have painted it when it was fresh. I guess I'll just waiy until it is unvearable and after that spend another $2 and do it properly.

[@pabloalbertolopez3909]

Hola muy buen vídeo consulta qué medida de diámetro es el tubo que utilizaste y con qué herramienta hiciste los cortes gracias saludos desde Argentina

[@xxaptxx]

Hola podrias usar un tubo de 20 mm de diametro ya que el diametro interno del headset de 1"(los antiguos) es de 22,2mm y tiene que poder atravezar sin dificultad. El corte lo puedes haacer con una sierra ayudandote de un tortinillo de banco o mordaza.