integrated headset help!

mickus

Hi All,

I have come round to needing to replace (maybe just bearings) my headset on my 2011 rockhopper pro.

This is the first time I have come across integrated headsets, so I have a couple of questions:

1 - can I change just bearings with these?

2 - if I change the whole headset are there any types I should avoid for replacement? (I was looking at this - http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=58426)

This is what the Evans site said the headset is: Headset: Integrated 1 1/8" threadless, Campy type full cartridge bearings

Here' a link to that page - http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/rockhopper-pro-2011-mountain-bike-ec024134#features

Thanks,

Mike

1mancity2

Yep you can just replace the bearings, they may have a code etched on the carrier somewere.

Avoid cheap nasty ones on ebay they have ill fitting bearings.

delcol

pop the bearing out and see if it has a code on it then type the code into google or go to your local bike shop.or even a bearing shop..

or can you pop the seal off clean and regrease them and refit the seal..

seems silly to replace a headset when it's only the bearings that need replacing.

The Rookie

You may or may not be able to change the bearings, depending on the type of headset fitted.
Semi integrated come with either open ball (just like cheap external), one piece (change the lot) or cartridge, I doubt a 'hopper comes with cartridge as standard!

Simon

Neal_

If it's a fully integrated headset then the bearings sit directly in the frame (there are no cups to fit into the headtube like a semi-integrated (zero stack) headset) therefore apart from the bearings the headset consisits of a crown and top race and the top nut so it might not be the expensive option to replace the lot instead of just the bearings. See below link for more info

http://canecreek.com/docs/Standardized_ ... System.pdf

supersonic

Is it a Campag (Italian standard) though?

Chunkers1980

I don't understand what people do with their headsets to need to change it after less than a year? I've had a couple going for years, just with a bit of grease every so often....

1mancity2

Chunkers1980 wrote:

I don't understand what people do with their headsets to need to change it after less than a year? I've had a couple going for years, just with a bit of grease every so often....

Same here.

delcol

Chunkers1980 wrote:

I don't understand what people do with their headsets to need to change it after less than a year? I've had a couple going for years, just with a bit of grease every so often....

true.

my oldest one is still on my 06 rockymountain. almost 6 year old. my heckler one was over 3 year old so was my pace...

gezebo

Agree, in 5 years I've replaced the headset once (last year) and even then it probably could have gone longer. I wonder how much stuff gets changed in general when its really ok. Some people must spend more time maintaining their bike than riding it!

mickus

I haven't opened it to have a look, yet. I'm just getting the knowledge in ready for the weekend so I don't miss a days ride out of not knowing what I'm doing.

As for what I did to it... who knows? The onlly time I've bought headsets in the past has been with new frames...

supersonic - I don't know. This is the first time I've encountered integrated headsets and am clueless(evidently). I assume I wont know until I take it apart?

Neal - Thanks! That pdf is spot on mate!

Neal_

The headset on my 3 year old bike is semi integrated (zero stack) and even with stripping it twice a year and regreasing I've just had to replace it as it was buggered. It was a rubbish headset though with no seals at all so after a wet muddy ride it would be full of crap plus it had loose ball bearings so stripping it was a massive pain in the arse. The Superstars one I've just fitted is a feat of engineering genius in comparison!

The Rookie

My commuter has done 1700miles on a headset taken from my Kraken frame that was the original fitted in 2006, the frame looked like it had been stored in a ditch for a while (fork stanchions rusted through) as well.....it has no seals either and the outer parts of it were pretty rusty, spins nice and smooth though!

You'll need to remove the stem and top cover to see what you have, cheaper bikes have a cup and then a caged ball bearings just like a cheap external, others (like my OE one and the FSA on my Kraken) have a one piece where the only solution is to replace the lot, I doubt at that price point the OE one is a more expensive cartridge bearing.

Simon

clydefrog

I've just bought a Boardman HT Comp that has an integrated headset, how do I go about maintaining it? I've been looking on google but not really found any information.

Greer_

Just drop the fork out of the frame every now and then (6 months maybe? you shouldnt have to do it often anyways) and regrease the bearings. Of course, it totally depends on whether the bearings are loose, cartridge, or non replaceable. Otherwise, just regrease if they start to feel gritty or you think something is wrong. Will usually solve the problem.

clydefrog

Ok thanks

Also I've just been reading this: http://chrisking.com/files/pdfs/Int20He ... lained.pdf

It's some article pretty much just slamming integrated headsets saying the bearings wear the inside of your frame and ruin it, is that true?

Chunkers1980

Might be, might not depends. But for normal riders the more parts that you can change the better without having to replace the whole thing. I.e headset cups IS brackets over PM, brake levers, pivot bolts/bushes, swing arms ect ect.

Greer_

I only have experience with semi-integrated headsets which have cups. But it was quite an interesting read, I've never seen much talk about them before. Chris King are way up there with their headsets so they know what they're talking about, doesn't really help you though! :?

clydefrog

Greer_ wrote:

I only have experience with semi-integrated headsets which have cups. But it was quite an interesting read, I've never seen much talk about them before. Chris King are way up there with their headsets so they know what they're talking about, doesn't really help you though! :?

Apparently though they're a maker of traditional headsets so they're against these other types that are used a lot, well to quote a guy from a discussion about it from another forum :

- Chris King is the premier manufacturer of traditional headsets.
- A growing number of bicycle frame manufacturers are moving towards integrated headsets
- Chris King does not make integrated headsets.
- Businesses like to protect their revenues.

Anyways it seems a lot/most integrated headsets these days have the bearings in a cartridge which means they can't grind against the inside of that frame, and that was their main gripe with it.

clydefrog

By the way one more thing, after I got my bike I loosened that allen key bolt in the top of the headset thinking it was going to let me realign it with the front wheel a little bit, but I couldn't move it so I was obviously doing it wrong. It doesn't matter that I've loosened it and tightened it back up again does it? It's not going to have altered anything below it or be bad that it's not set just as it was when I got it?

cooldad

Nope everything is held together by the stem bolts, which you need to loosen as well if you want to adjust it. The topcap and bolt is just to load the bearings.
Once you've aligned the wheel, you tighten up the top cap bolt until the tension is correct (moves easily with no play) and then tighten up the stem bolts. After that the top cap and bolt does nothing.

clydefrog

cooldad wrote:

Nope everything is held together by the stem bolts, which you need to loosen as well if you want to adjust it. The topcap and bolt is just to load the bearings.
Once you've aligned the wheel, you tighten up the top cap bolt until the tension is correct (moves easily with no play) and then tighten up the stem bolts. After that the top cap and bolt does nothing.

Are the stem bolts the ones on the side of it? The ones called pinch bolts in this image?





So as I said I just loosened that top one, realised it didn't do anything to help me align the wheel then tightened it back up again, maybe tighter than it was when I got it, but that won't make any difference right?

cooldad

Yep. The pinch bolts, and no it wouldn't have made any difference.

supersonic

Pinch bolts there clamp the stem. Top cap adjusts bearings. Must loosen the pinch bolts first.

clydefrog

Ok thanks, so just to clear it up, as I said I just loosened that top one, realised it didn't do anything to help me align the wheel then tightened it back up again, maybe tighter than it was when I got it, but that won't make any difference right? Sorry for probably worrying about nothing and wasting your time haha.

Edit: Saw your edit, cheers.

cooldad

Nope.
Edit just saw you saw my edit.

clydefrog

I deleted my edit then put it in a new post, then saw your post, then saw you edited it to reply to my edit, then re-edited my post to re-include my edit.