Alpina Hidden Headset

Streak

I hope someone can help me, I am used to the old screw adjust headsets, but I have just bought the Ribble winter trainer/audax frame and fork and need to fit an Alpina Hidden headset for the first time.
Could any one give instruction/illustrations on how to do this? It seems pretty straight forward, but I would like to know exactly which order the bits go on.

Thanks in advance, Streak

Monty Dog

By hiddenset you mean integrated headset? From the crown upwards: crown race, lower bearing, frame, upper bearing (other way round), top race cover, split collet, stem and topcap. On some designs you may find the split collet goes before the top race cover. Also make sure that the lower bearing is positioned with the chamfer on the inner bore facing down i..e over the crown race..

Zendog1

I bougt the same deal a few months back - hopefully your crown race came fitted. The bearings on mine were helpfully on the steerer tube in the right order and the right way round. One point as you are new to headsets make sure you get the fit right with as many spacers as it takes before cuttiing the steerer tube.

Streak

HI guys, thanks for your replies.

I do mean an integrated headset, My headset did come on the steerer tube but guess what? yes I'm a f*nny, I took it off without making a note of which order they were in.

Zendog, do you remember the assy order? does the split collet go on before the race cover as Montydog suggested. Did the the races just fit easily in the head tube, or did you need any special technique? I'm worried about making sure they are installed true.

Regards, Streak

Monty Dog

It would be pretty apparent which order they go in - if the top race cover only has a bore to fit snugly over the steerer, then it goes above the split collet - FWIW most headsets have the collet fitted after the top race cover

Streak

Thanks Monty Dog, I will look at it tonight and let you kow how I get on.

Streak

Streak

Hi guys,

I managed to get a look last night and assembled the forks into the frame (used some anti-seize compound on the races/frame/fork crown interfaces.
The races just pressed in snuggly, the split collets go on the fork crown below the lower race, and above the top race under the race cap.
Now I just need some spacers and build up the bike, nice little task for Christmas week!

Thanks for all your help and suggestions, and Merry Christmas!

Streak