Headset cages and bearings

mrfmilo

Hi, I stripped down my headset tonight (intergrated with open cages) and the bearings are worn + plus the cages bent in my fingers :shock: In the top cage there are 22 bearings and in the bottom cage 20. Where can I buy replacement bearings and cages?

Thanks

mrfmilo

Also the headset is a 'Tange Seiki made for Cane Creek' 1/1.8th and GT Avalanche frame (intergrated)

nicklouse

your LBS
and a bearing shop.

read the info on sheldon brown about not using the cages. just add more balls.

mrfmilo

Is this it?:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/headsets.html

And how do I know what size bearings I have?

Thanks Nick

supersonic

Are you sure this is an integrated headset, and they are not cartridges rather than cages?

nicklouse

most likely an internal one.

mrfmilo

Yeah, I'll get some pics tomorrow.

It's these type cages:



And they sit on cups inside the headtube

supersonic

Okay dorkey, is an internal type headset.

But as nick says, buy the balls loose and fill the cups (then take two out). You may have to measure a bearing with a caliper.

mrfmilo

OK Thanks. What quality bearings do I need + is there a certain size?

supersonic

Quality is of little impoertance really. They are usually 3/16 or 5/32.

Vernier caliper time ;-)

mrfmilo

supersonic wrote:

Quality is of little impoertance really. They are usually 3/16 or 5/32.

Vernier caliper time ;-)

Don't have one :?

Could I buy this and then take out the bearings from the cages, and stick them loose in the cups:?

http://www.mcconveycycles.com/store/pro ... AGED-HEAD/

nicklouse

that one is for a 1" headset

Practical service pack containing a tube of white lithium grease and retained ball bearings. (this is for 1" headset only for oversized headsets use loose bearings)

mrfmilo

OK, can you point me towards some that would fit/work? These: http://www.allterraincycles.co.uk/product/2213.html

If not I'll call my LBS

supersonic

Until we know the size of the ball bearings...

mrfmilo

Sorry, this is what I'm trying to find out I thought there might be 1 size that fits all, but apparently not. I'll try and get some from my LBS

Thanks anyway

mrfmilo

I have just found my headset:

It is on page 7 and is the ZSTE one:

http://www.tangeseiki.com/2009/CANE_CREEK.pdf

Is that any help?

mrfmilo

Anyone?

omegas

I have just fitted FSA Orbit Z to my GT Aggressor:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=15888

I had to drop the forks out and remove the cups to measure everything up and then found a replacement here that has cartridge bearing fitted.

http://www.fullspeedahead.com/fly.aspx? ... &taxid=155

mrfmilo

Thanks, I fitted that FSA headset to a different bike a few weeks back.
Will look into replacement bearings/cages first, as I can't really afford that at the mo

Thanks anyway

mrfmilo

Been searching more for replacement bearings, haven't found anything. So would any of these Internal headsets fit into my headtube:?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/New-Ritchey-WCS-A ... 414c88660b

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/GUB-PRO-Internal- ... 519013cd40

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FSA-IS2-Internal- ... 439722d7b2

Thanks

couldashouldawoulda

I can see you're struggling here - I went thru a similar problem. I just went and measured the old ones from my GT. The balls are 0.397mm (1/64" I think). There should be 24 of them in a cage.

I got my original replacement ones from halfords. But they didnt last any longer than the originals. I think the sealing from / around the crown race was poor.

I dont know if the full headsets you've just listed will fit. The Avalanche as a 50mm od headtube which I think is "non-standard" so you'd need to find one that specifically mentions the od.

I fitted one of these and had no problems since:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=15888

mrfmilo

The top cage has 22 bearings the bottom 20.
How did you measure your bearings? A vernier?

I think I'll just get the Orbit.

Thanks for the help

couldashouldawoulda

The top cage has 22 bearings the bottom 20.

Ok - I confess I only checked one. But mine must be different - maybe year / model? But I dont think it'd be a problem.

How did you measure your bearings? A vernier?

Yep!

I think I'll just get the Orbit.

By far the best idea - you'll fit it and forget - that's what should happen!

Thanks for the help

Welcome

mrfmilo

couldashouldawoulda wrote:

The top cage has 22 bearings the bottom 20.

Ok - I confess I only checked one. But mine must be different - maybe year / model? But I dont think it'd be a problem.

Mine's a 2.0 2008

By far the best idea - you'll fit it and forget - that's what should happen!

I have the Orbit Z on another bike, is very good - smooth