Headset compatibility question

neeb

I'd be grateful if someone else can confirm my thinking on this:

I have a Trigon R5C headset fitted on a frame with a 1 1/8th" => 1 1/2" tapered steerer tube. It's this one, except it's the version with the taller top cover -

http://www.trigoncycles.com.tw/product_ ... p?t=8&n=69

Can I swap out the entire top part of the headset (top cover, bearings etc) for the corresponding top parts of a Campagnolo hiddenset? -

http://www.campagnolo.com/jsp/en/groups ... atid_4.jsp

The hiddenset isn't for tapered steerers, so I'd leave the bottom (1 1/5") half of the Trigon headset in place.

My understanding is that the critical specifications for the top half of the Trigon headset are the same as the Campagnolo standard, i.e. 41.8mm outside diameter and 45 degree bearings. That comes from the Park Tool website, the Campagnolo documentation is a little abstruse...

Monty Dog

Can't see any reason why not. You may find that you can buy the top cover only as a spare.

neeb

Fitted it yesterday and it seems solid. I had the record headset lying around anyway, and it's a lot lighter and better looking! The bearing is fully serviceable too.

My only reservation was that I've never completely understood what all of the numbers in headset specifications mean, e.g. for the Trigon upper:

Ø30.2xØ41.8x8x45˚

I suppose the 45 degrees and 41.8 outside diameter are what matter here, but I couldn't find 41.8mm in any of Campagnolo's documentation, only on the Park Tool website. The campag specs just state 42mm for what looks like the internal dimensions of the bearing seat in the steerer tube, so I guess the bearing itself needs to be 0.2mm smaller to fit.

Monty Dog

Yes, 42mm is the frame headtube internal diameter, so the bearing needs to be a touch smaller for clearance.