Hatta MX10 headset fitting. Advice or experiences?

[Deutschmeister]

Hi, I'm restoring a Birmingham Wheels and tried fitting a new Hatta headset from Alan's today, The old shells knocked out of the frame ok, just a tap either side did it but the new headset looks as though it's flaring the tube when pressing it in. I sanded the inside of the tube with wet & dry paper with oil so its smooth and then started to press the shells in at work and the bottom of the tube started to stretch so I stopped! Anyone else had agro fitting the shells? I work on cars for a living and don't want to give the frame too much grief as it's suvived 24 years so far!
I'll probably take it to someone who knows what they're doing! The frame's about a 1982 so I bought the Hatta MX10 headset, the forks are Tange ARX I think. They're stamped TANGE and have drop outs with four holes in them, 1" thread.
Any help would be appriciated! Just wondering if they're usually this much of a chore!

[selfpreservation]

get a piece of threaded bar 12mm is good 2 nuts 2 big washers and 2 blocks of wood with 12mm holes in , put a nut on , then a washer, then a block of wood then the cup , pass it through the headtube of the bike then put the other cup on then block then washer then nut , hey presto you got a cup press tighten the bolts gently untill they are in position , works great for bb as well 

[theRuler]

if the cups are flaring the headtube noticeably then stop there

either find the right size headset, use the old cups, or machine the new.

even though all old bmx frames are 1" forks, there is sometimes a fraction difference in the headtube size. often youll get a frame where the cups feel slack. i have a frame that i just cant seem to knock any cups into - too tight

[Deutschmeister]

Cheers, I reckon I'll take the frame into the local shop tomorrow and get him to look at it, the bloke in there's into old skool bikes. I reckon it'll need machining down though Just didn't want to see the frame split. Thanks.

[Jazzchimp]

Sounds like it's tooo big!

I have had to grind some headsets down. Best to get a micrometer on it to measure the difference.

[theRuler]

Cheers, I reckon I'll take the frame into the local shop tomorrow and get him to look at it, the bloke in there's into old skool bikes. I reckon it'll need machining down though Just didn't want to see the frame split. Thanks.

machine the cups not the frame though!

[Steve P]

Do the cups "tip" as you press them into the frame as this can cause the head tube to flare

If so . . . grind or file the sharp tapered leading edge to help press each cup into the frame squarely 

[Deutschmeister]

Cheers for all the replies I got them in in the end. I measured the old shells with a micrometer and taped the new shells to the chuck of my drill and held sandpaper on them until they came down to the right size went in fine.

[Rombloke]

great big fook off hammer

Dave

[MartyC]

great big fook off hammer

Dave

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