Headsets may have changed a lot in the past few years, but the way we install them has not. With the exception of integrated headsets which drop the bearings directly into the frame, many headsets still use press fit cups that the bearing sits inside. There are however, more sizes than ever for the cups, bearings, and frame bores which makes having the right tool essential. Adding to their current range of bearing and bottom bracket specific tools, Wheels Manufacturing has a new Press-8 headset press that should do the trick for the most popular sizes…
Using a fairly simple design, the Press-8 consists of a zinc-plated 1/2″ threaded rod, two machined aluminum red anodized handles with brass contact points, and a head tube drift and headset cup drift. Compared to some other headset presses, the Press-8 looks like it might be a bit slower to use since there is no quick release for the threaded handles and you will have to thread it on and off twice to install a headset, but that also keeps the tool simple, light, and lower priced. To use, you start by placing the head tube drift in the frame and use the headset cup drift to install the cup on the opposite side of the head tube. Then flip the tool (and the headtube drift) and install the opposite cup.
Compatible only with 1 1/8″ and 1 1/2″ head tube cups and 34, 44, 49, and 56mm head tube inner diameters, the Press-8 definitely is not a universal tool – yet. But knowing Wheels Manufacturing and their ability to make just about anything they want, it would be pretty easy to add new drift sizes in the future as consumers demand them. Available late June for $125.
