Just dropped $80 on a headset press and it's already paid for itself
Had a carbon frame come in with a seized lower cup, and the old hammer-and-drift method was a no-go. This tool got it done clean in five minutes, no stress on the frame at all. Anyone have a favorite brand for replacement cups on older road bikes?
Glad the press worked for you, that's a solid buy. When you say seized lower cup, was it just a standard steel cup in an aluminum frame, or are we talking about a carbon steerer with an integrated race? The removal method can get real different if it's the latter.
People forget how much old grease turns into glue over time. Heat is your friend here, even on a standard cup, more than just brute force. A propane torch on the frame, not the cup, breaks that bond fast.
Man, isn't it the best feeling when a tool just solves a problem like that? I had the exact same thing happen with an old Trek, the cup was totally welded in there. I mean, I was sweating bullets trying not to crack anything. That little press felt like a miracle worker, just a smooth push and it was out. For the new cups, I usually just grab the basic Cane Creek ones if it's a standard headset, they've never let me down.