Trouble With Upper Tube Race Installation I was able to install the lower race without issue, but I cannot seem to get the upper one installed.  I am installing a new threaded headset on a newly painted bike.  There is no new paint blocking the surface.  I do not have any professional tools for this installation, just a hammer and a block of wood.

Is there any trick to getting it in there or do I need to have my LBS ream it out?
I think you should use the "recommended" way to do that (even if that means using a home-made solution:


Find two plates (wood, metal) which you can drill a hole through;
Put each one of these (already drilled) plates on each end of the head tube, with the cups already positioned for insertion;
Insert a long bolt or threaded rod through it all;
Insert two nuts on each end, and press the system together, so that the cups are forced inside the frame in the proper position.


If you have a wise bench bench vise, you can do the same, but I would recommend using the plates too (not the raw jaws of the vise).