a story....

[paulson]

Once upon a time there was a guy doing a headset install

It turns out this "guy" got a little overzealous when pounding the crown race onto his rigid track fork. Instead of bracing the crown, this idiot just placed the fork legs onto some cardboard on the hard floor.

When trying to put the wheel back on the fork, he notices that something isn't quite right. Yep, the dropouts are totally mashed up - as in, smushed together. "damn angled droputs" he thinks to himself....must of taken all the energy of that crown race pounding.

Being a steel fork, he figures he can just bend and pound them back into place then mash the axle right in there. Problem apparently solved...

Now just for fun, lets assume this guy commutes on this bike everyday. Do you folks think its safe for him to ride with these dropouts having been bent all over the place and back again? Just how resilient is steel anyway?

I'd be curious to get some feedback from people in case I were to someday find myself in such a situation ;)

[Buddylee]

Well If that were to really happen, I'd suggest that steel is able to withstand some hmmm adjusting. But I would suggest seaching for cracks, stretch marks, any sort of stress.

How well does this "guy" ride wheelies?


Once upon a time there was a guy doing a headset install

It turns out this "guy" got a little overzealous when pounding the crown race onto his rigid track fork. Instead of bracing the crown, this idiot just placed the fork legs onto some cardboard on the hard floor.

When trying to put the wheel back on the fork, he notices that something isn't quite right. Yep, the dropouts are totally mashed up - as in, smushed together. "damn angled droputs" he thinks to himself....must of taken all the energy of that crown race pounding.

Being a steel fork, he figures he can just bend and pound them back into place then mash the axle right in there. Problem apparently solved...

Now just for fun, lets assume this guy commutes on this bike everyday. Do you folks think its safe for him to ride with these dropouts having been bent all over the place and back again? Just how resilient is steel anyway?

I'd be curious to get some feedback from people in case I were to someday find myself in such a situation ;)

[nocro]

Once upon a time there was a guy doing a headset install

It turns out this "guy" got a little overzealous when pounding the crown race onto his rigid track fork. Instead of bracing the crown, this idiot just placed the fork legs onto some cardboard on the hard floor.

When trying to put the wheel back on the fork, he notices that something isn't quite right. Yep, the dropouts are totally mashed up - as in, smushed together. "damn angled droputs" he thinks to himself....must of taken all the energy of that crown race pounding.

Being a steel fork, he figures he can just bend and pound them back into place then mash the axle right in there. Problem apparently solved...

Now just for fun, lets assume this guy commutes on this bike everyday. Do you folks think its safe for him to ride with these dropouts having been bent all over the place and back again? Just how resilient is steel anyway?

I'd be curious to get some feedback from people in case I were to someday find myself in such a situation ;)


I'd say that I'm not qualified to say, but will say anyway. I think that the dropouts are probably still viable.

The other thing that I would mention is a 2x4 makes a great support / dropout saver. Support the fork on the 2x4 at the joint of the fork legs. The dropouts would be spared supporting the fork during all that pounding.

[eloach]

I'd say that I'm not qualified to say, but will say anyway. I think that the dropouts are probably still viable.

The other thing that I would mention is a 2x4 makes a great support / dropout saver. Support the fork on the 2x4 at the joint of the fork legs. The dropouts would be spared supporting the fork during all that pounding.

If you don't have a 2x4 handy, you can just put your foot on the kitchen table, place the fork over your shin, and pound on that. If you don't have a long handled, 10 pound sledge available, the forehead works really well, if you're flexible enough.

I think it's perfectly safe to ride as long as you have as many beers prior to riding as you did prior to the crown race install attempt.

[drevil]

I'd say that I'm not qualified to say, but will say anyway. I think that the dropouts are probably still viable.

The other thing that I would mention is a 2x4 makes a great support / dropout saver. Support the fork on the 2x4 at the joint of the fork legs. The dropouts would be spared supporting the fork during all that pounding.

When I install crown races at home, I flip the fork over, stick the steerer tube in the proper sized PVC pipe, then lift up the whole assembly and bang that on the ground (PVC pipe first) until the race is properly seated. Saves dropouts.

[OverStuffed]

When I install crown races at home, I flip the fork over, stick the steerer tube in the proper sized PVC pipe, then lift up the whole assembly and bang that on the ground (PVC pipe first) until the race is properly seated. Saves dropouts.
These suggestions are too complicated. I hold the fork in my hand and pound away with a steel hammer (as opposed to a rubber mallet or something). Never had a problem, and if the fork isn't prepped right, I don't damage anything.

My own overcomplicated suggestion: use an old front hub, brace it on something and go to town.

[jabberwocky]

I'm weird. I use a Park crown race setter. Put the crown race on there with the right adapter, tap it with the hammer and its done.

Bizarre, I know, but it works pretty well. ;)

[rsosborn]

I'm weird. I use a Park crown race setter. Put the crown race on there with the right adapter, tap it with the hammer and its done.

Bizarre, I know, but it works pretty well. ;)


crazy talk. use your forehead, like a real man.

[paulson]

When I install crown races at home, I flip the fork over, stick the steerer tube in the proper sized PVC pipe, then lift up the whole assembly and bang that on the ground (PVC pipe first) until the race is properly seated. Saves dropouts.

Great tip

I did another hs install last night using this same method. Worked flawlessly. The best part is that you don't even need to hunt down a hammer/mallet.