Headset clean and lube

mattyg2004

I've had my spark indoors for the last few days and I've just gone to move it and the bars offered a fair bit more resistance than usual and I can feel it. I've given them a good wiggle and they've freed off loads but can still feel friction.

I've had a look around the bottom bearing and there seems to be some rust marks. (thats the last time I let a mate use the pressure washer on my bike whilst I get the car)

So my question is. As they are pressed in (scott spark 30) to the carbon whats the easiest way to clean and re grease/lube.


Cheers
Matt

1mancity2

Take the stem off, release the fork, pop the bearings out clean the inside of the cups/ headset and the bearings regrease, assemble, done.

mattyg2004

Do I need to press them back in or can it all be done with fingers and thumbs. Once I've undone the bars

cooldad

Should be able to do it by hand.

1mancity2

Your only taking the bearings out, they will be tight but should come out by hand as cooldad says.

mattyg2004

You know when it goes wrong I'm coming back and blaming somebody else but me dont ya

I'll report back

EDIT: oops forgot to say Thanks :oops:

1mancity2

Just take your time.

mattyg2004

Well that job turned to sh*t.

Got bearings out nice and easy. Degreased, got my cloth started to rub and one fell apart bearings all over the show. :oops: Found all but 1. :evil:

Off to LBS and slightly FABS and no joy. Stoopid plastic bike.

Ok trying to source some 45/45x41 press in bearings for a ritchey headset.....By the weekend....lol


Leisure lakes couldnt match and said they were different to the hope ones.

Interwebs here I come

delcol

are they not sealed bearings in your headset....

i had my old rockymountain hardtail do something simlar i was riding (very wet and muddy) i went to turn the bars and they would not turn then there was a locud crack and they moved the steering was horrible and choppy. i checked when i got home and i to could see rust..
i stripped the headset down to find the bearings had gone rusty i regreased them and cleaned the headset up. but it happened again within a few weeks... i ended up swapping my headset for a fsa one with sealed (cartridge style) bearings... that head set is still going strong now 4 years later.....

i would change the headset for a canecreek hope or chrisking one......

mattyg2004

They looked sealed until it opened up (couldnt see the bearings until it came apart)
Its a semi Intergrated headset so not an easyswap.

I've cleaned and regreased and put back together albeit missing one Ickle ball bearing. It feels better than it was. Just got to find someone that has them in stock now.

Hopefully before it goes again.

May get a couple of sets now though.

Neal_

Google search has found a couple of places that appear to have them in stock

http://www.pedalon.co.uk/acatalog/ritch ... pair-.html or http://www.slanecycles.com/ritchey-wcs- ... rrency=GBP

Alternatively if you know the size of the loose bearings you could order some and replace them in the cartridges.

http://simplybearings.co.uk/shop/Loose+ ... index.html

allthegearnoidea

More often than not its just as cheap to get a new headset than replace the bearings, then just swap the bearings over!
ive found with a lot of bearings that they leave the factory with a light smear of grease on them, i normally use a very fine point and pop the rubber seals off and pack them with waterproof grease till it squirts out when the seals are pushed back on!

you may find that the bearing will work fine minus one ball, but if its fallen apart like you sedscribe it wont take much to kill it again!

mattyg2004

Neal_ wrote:

Google search has found a couple of places that appear to have them in stock

http://www.pedalon.co.uk/acatalog/ritch ... pair-.html or http://www.slanecycles.com/ritchey-wcs- ... rrency=GBP

Alternatively if you know the size of the loose bearings you could order some and replace them in the cartridges.

http://simplybearings.co.uk/shop/Loose+ ... index.html

Cheers Neal,

I had ordered some from slane but after a phone call to confirm they were out of stock. I'd never heard of "Pedal on" But after a quick phone call looks like I've found a new Etailer. thanks

P.s he said he has loads in. I bought 2 sets But almost bought 4.

allthegearnoidea wrote:

More often than not its just as cheap to get a new headset than replace the bearings, then just swap the bearings over!
ive found with a lot of bearings that they leave the factory with a light smear of grease on them, i normally use a very fine point and pop the rubber seals off and pack them with waterproof grease till it squirts out when the seals are pushed back on!

you may find that the bearing will work fine minus one ball, but if its fallen apart like you sedscribe it wont take much to kill it again!

We tried that but couldn't find any to match.

I'm sure I had read somewhere though that the HOPE bearings were A: The best & B: the same. Now I've got some spares I'll spend some time investigating for future use.

Cheers to everyone.

Especially those who helped at the start. Another job I've done myself. This fixing the bike myself might catch on.

Neal_

Good stuff, glad you got it sorted. I've bought from Pedal On and they're decent.

My headset is making nasty noises today and that's after servicing it at the end of August, also each bearing race has about 27 loose tiny bearings that fall inside the down tube At least I have some new stainless balls to replace the rubbish ones that are in it now.

1mancity2

Just a likkle note, if your going to do it regular get yourself a magnetic tray, should stop you fiddling with your balls!!

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=14433

Neal_

That's a good idea actually, I'm a bit cack handed though so I might get the wife to help when I'm next rummaging with my balls.

mattyg2004

1mancity2 wrote:

Just a likkle note, if your going to do it regular get yourself a magnetic tray, should stop you fiddling with your balls!!

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=14433

I've got one for when working on the cars used to stick it a wing or the bonnet. But I can't get the damn thing to stick to my plastic bike


Thanks to Neal, I have received from "pedal on" 2 sets of headset bearings some spare hangers some lizard skins cable rub patches thingies and some mt500 shorts.

Thanks to Neal I'm skint

But able to ride the bike so am appy

1mancity2

Job done, go ride.....