That cheap bearing press from Amazon actually works if you freeze the cups first.

I got fed up with hammering headset cups into place and buggering up the paint, so I tried leaving the new bearings in the freezer overnight and they slid right in with barely any pressure. Has anyone else tried freezing components before pressing them in?

2 comments

2 Comments

joel_jones1mo ago

Freezing stuff is a good trick but you gotta be careful with the terminology here. Those cups aren't bearings, they're the bearing races or just the cups themselves. The actual bearings are the little balls inside. Freezing the whole assembly helps shrink the metal a tiny bit which makes pressing easier for sure. Just don't leave them in there too long or moisture can condense on them when you pull them out. That can cause rust down the line which would be a real bummer. I usually just give them an hour in the freezer and wipe them down quick before pressing.

patricia_gonzalez1mo ago

Wow, careful with the moisture there or you'll have a freezercicle rust party!