Do Giant use a different size headset to everybody else?

Pirahna
Pirahna Posts: 1,315
edited March 2008 in Workshop
I've juse spent a considerable amount of time taking the bottom headset race out of a Giant SCR only to find a standard bearing won't fit.

A standard integrated bearing has an OD of 41.8mm. The bearing track I took out is 41.5mm but the internal diameter of the Giant head tube is 41mm.

I do posses an industrial strength bearing press but I think it'll do some serious damage trying to squeeze a bearing into a very under sized hole.

Does anybody have any thoughts?

Comments

  • aracer
    aracer Posts: 1,649
    Campag standard is 41.8, but IS (or Cane Creek) integrated standard is 41.0, so it sounds like you've got that - see http://www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=68
  • If the SCR uses the same headset as the TCR, then this will fit:

    FSA Orbit CC No.16 with 36/45 degree bearing. Wiggle sell it for £18.99. See link at:

    http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.a ... &UberCat=0
  • Pirahna
    Pirahna Posts: 1,315
    Thanks for the replies. I spent ages trying to find headset specs before posting but didn't think of the Park site.

    Cheers guys.
  • Use a whetstone or some other abrasive and take 0.2mm off all round the new bearing...
  • My SCR (2007 model) has a Cane Creek headset fitted as standard if that helps.
  • What was the fix for this Pirahna?

    As I have an SCR I 'd like to know what to look out for,as I've never replaced this type of headset which I presume is the semi integrated type.At the moment I don't have any problems with mine , but I'm a great believer of Sod's Law, so I like to be ready before everything becomes a disaster!

    Thanks , Rich.
  • Pirahna
    Pirahna Posts: 1,315
    Rich,

    I wasn't able to find one on-line and phoning around got no results either, they seem to a perculiar size. My local bike shop is a Giant dealer and he's ordered one for me from Giant. Almost three weeks later and the headset still hasn't arrived despite the shop chasing Giant for it.

    A bit annoying as I'm off to France on Saturday for a week and don't want to take my best bike.
  • Thanks for the update.

    Sounds like a bit of a pain,I wouldn't have expected that sort of problem with a current model bke-good luck, I hope your headset arrives in time!

    Rich.
  • andylav
    andylav Posts: 308
    The problem with all Giant frames is that they need a collar that sits inside the head tube against which the top and bottom bearings sit. There is a specific FSA headset that is produced for Giant that includes these collars - although any 36/45 bearing will fit and work once the collars are in place.

    If you are having difficulty with your local Giant dealer getting one for you, try phillipsoncycles.co.uk who have always had stoock of them when I have need to source one in the past.