Unior Crown Race Setter

If you are going to install a headset at home, you don’t NEED a headset press (but it’s nice to have).  You do, however, need a crown race setter if you have a solid (not split) crown race.   The crown race is the steel or aluminum bearing race that sits on the top of your fork.  Most are press fit. 

The Unior crown race setter is the best one out there.  It’s not limited by steerer tube length, like the Park one is.  The race setter adapters are steel, so they last longer than the alloy Park ones. 

Grease the shoulders of the crown race and then use the setter like a slide hammer.  That’s how it’s supposed to be used.  Grip the fork in one hand, and slide the crown race setter up and down with a quickness.  A few solid slide wacks and the race is set.  

DO NOT put your fork drop outs on the floor when you do this.  If you MUST immobilize the fork, stick a fork leg in the workstand so the drop outs don’t get mashed.