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Not long ago I secured purchase of a new fork for my bike, a slightly-used 2008 Fox Racing Shox 32 F100 RLC air spring fork. This should be quite an upgrade from the RockShox Dart 3 coil spring fork that came on my bike. Since I am going to have the steering bits of the bike apart, I also decided to replace the headset at the same time. After some reserach I went with a Cane Creek S-3, which is just one below their very well regarded extra-sealed S-8. The only difference between the two is the bearings, where the S-3 has steel bearings which are slightly harder than the S-8’s stainless bearings. Also acquired (and shown above) are some Price Point-brand carbon fiber headset spacers, purchased just in case they were needed.
In order to install all these parts some rather specialized tool are needed. I’d been contemplating fashioning them out of PVC pipe, threaded rod, nuts, and washers, but a friend offered to loan me his bike tools, so I took him up on the offer. As a result I’ve got a nice selection of American-made Park Tool-brand bicycle tools here. Specifically, I was loaned a HHP-2 Bearing Cup Press, CRS-1 Crown Race Setting System, CRP-1 Universal Crown Race Puller, and RT-1 Head Cup Remover.
With all of these tools I should have no problem removing the old head cups, popping off the old crown race, seating the new race, and seating the new head cups. I’m just going to wait on doing it until after Saturday’s bike race, as it would be unwise to change such a crucial part of a bike around right before needing to depend on it.
If you’re interested, here’s a few more photos of this bike stuff:
· Cane Creek S3 Headset and Price Point-brand carbon fiber headset spacers. (Note the terribly ugly logos.)
· Slight damage to the left leg of the slightly-used F100RLC fork.
· Slight scuff on the right leg of the new fork.
