Help! I can't remove my forks/headset!

Simon Notley
Posts: 1,263
Trying to remove my forks in order to replace my integrated headset bearings but the bearing cap (i.e. the bit that sits on the steerer between the stem and the headtube is stuck on! I had the same issue with the spacers above the stem (there was lots of salty crap on the steerer which stopped them sliding off), but I could lever them off with a screwdriver. However, this trick doesn't work with the headset because the only thing to lever against it the frame.
I have been trying to knock the forks out with a rubber mallet (and in desperation, a hammer) but have only succeeded in getting about 0.5mm of movement, so now the heasdet is even worse and I'm not further on!
Am I doing something wrong? Is there a secret technique? Is there something I can use which might dissolve the salty crap? Tried gt85 and 3in1, but no luck... maybe bleach, but that sounds like a very bad idea...
I have been trying to knock the forks out with a rubber mallet (and in desperation, a hammer) but have only succeeded in getting about 0.5mm of movement, so now the heasdet is even worse and I'm not further on!
Am I doing something wrong? Is there a secret technique? Is there something I can use which might dissolve the salty crap? Tried gt85 and 3in1, but no luck... maybe bleach, but that sounds like a very bad idea...
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Comments
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There's probably a locking collet between the headset top cover and the fork steerer - you mentioned you gave the steerer a firm whack with a rubber mallet and it moved slightly - try pushing down hard on the outside of the top cover to release the collar, it should just slide off. Don't try levering it off, you'll probably damage something.Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..0
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Update: I got it off by hitting it harder and for longer! It's got rubber seals on the inside which appear to make it impossible to slide easily.
Next problem, the bearings are clearly buggered as they disintegrated when I got the steerer out, but they appear to have no identifying markings! I know they 'Time' part number, but that is useless unless I want to pay top whack at a bike shop (and wait for them to try and source them), in which case I may as well just hand the whole job over to them.. which I am very tempted to do as the bike is now useless for the long weekend0 -
What sort of bearing are they? Ball bearings in a cage - or the cassette type?0
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Sorry - meant cartridge, not cassette.0
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if you have vernier callipers, contact a bearing shop who will tell you what measurements to take to identify what the bearing number is.0
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Yup, if it's a ball bearing cage, then don't worry about the cage - it's just there to aid in assembly. Take a few of the balls to a local engineering shop and they should be able to measure them and supply replacements (count the number required and try to keep the top and bottom separate just in case they are different sizes/numbers.
Putting the bearings back without the cage can be a pain - just use loads of sticky grease.0 -
It's a cartridge type, with two metal sleeves and tiny BBs inside a rubber strip between two. It's the rubber thing that's disintegrated. External diameter 41mm (seems to be standard) internal diameter 33mm - presumably unique to this headset as it fits into the top cap which then grips the steerer...
How exactly do I go about finding one of these mystical bearing shops? Anyone know of one in/near Bracknell? Google seems to think Maidenhead in my nearest, but I may just be searching for the wrong thing.
If I can't get bearings, is there any chance that an after market headset from Cane Creek etc, would work? Time don't seem to sell them separately from the bikes.0 -
Are you sure their are no numbers on the bearing? try giving it a clean and look carefully. but if you can't find anything then, almost all bearings are from a standard range of sizes so it is highly likely you can find replacements.
For cartridge type bearings i think you need inner, outer and height measurements and the interface angle. usually they are either 36 degrees or 45 degrees for cycle headsets.
I used yellow pages and found better results compared to google.
failing that try searching on the web for replacement bearings for your headset. Someone else may have found the same issue as you and documented how they fixed it?
Or go to your LBS and ask if you can compare your bearings with the ones in other headsets.0 -
Cane Creek Headset Finder is your friend. If you input the appropriate dimensions, it will work out the correct headset.
BTW - when you mentioned that the bike is a "Time" - what model is it. Time have a number of different headset types - and also differing types of headset retention systems. One of them - Quickset (identifiable by a series of small holes in the top headset cap)- isn't really supposed to be removed with a hammer!'This week I 'ave been mostly been climbing like Basso - Shirley Basso.'0 -
It's a Time Edge First - it's not the quickset, it's whatever came before that (helpfully just described as Time headset). I contacted Time and they gave me a part number for the bearings, but it's just their internal number I think.
Cheers for the link, will check that out.0 -
Cane creek seems to suggest that the upper bearing is 'Italian standard' the lower bearing is identical (although fitted directly to the steerer rather than via a cap). I am asking around engineering colleagues for a bearing supplier and if that fails I shall rock up at my LBS with the bike in pieces and throw money at them!0
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Is the LBS a TIME dealer - maybe worth contacting local TIME dealers ?
Had a good search re this - didn't find much, I'm afraid.
http://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum ... ge+headset0 -
Try www.mountainbikecomponents.co.uk for bearings.
They seem to have a good stock, and I'm sure a phone call to them may help.
They do a great range in gear hangers, so I'm sure bearings will be similar.
Good luck."There are no hills, there is no wind, I feel no pain !"
"A bad day on the bike is always better than a good day in the office !"0 -
Thanks for all the advice, here's an update (with smilies to help those of us at work get through to the next four day weekend):
Bearing suppliers advised me that they are a manufacturers special :evil:
LBS very helpful, measured everything up, confirmed that they are totally non standard and nothing they had in stock could even be bodged to fit :x. They have put some Time bearings on order with the distributor... they were out of stock so I could be in for a long wait. :roll:
On the plus side, a friend has offered me a good price on a new frame and I still got almost 250km of riding in last weekend on a bike thrown together from my commuter and bits of the Time0