Dropped $80 on a bearing press kit and I'm still not sure if it was worth it

I mean, it's nice to have the right tool for headset and wheel hub work, but I only use it maybe twice a year. For the same cash, I could've gotten a really good set of hex wrenches I'd use every single day. Do you guys think a press is a must-have or just a luxury for a small shop?

3 comments

3 Comments

nathanh442mo ago

I used to just hammer bearings in with a socket and a mallet. After ruining a Chris King headset cup, I bought the Park Tool HHP-2. It's one of those tools that saves you from a very expensive mistake, so for me it paid for itself on day one.

mark_fisher482mo ago

That tool is basically a precision press. It spreads the force perfectly around the cup edge so it goes in straight every time. I've pressed in dozens of headset cups with mine and they all seat perfectly.

lily_sullivan821mo ago

Just to be clear, the HHP-2 is for pressing headset cups, not bearings. Bearings are usually a press-fit into the cup itself, which is a different job. That tool is all about getting the cup perfectly straight in the frame, which is where the hammer method goes wrong.