Headset, have I done good ?

dragonontheedge

The headset on my Allez finally went norks up yesterday and died after 8,000 miles. I was surprised it latest that long as what came out consisted of an expoxed flimsy cage with thousands of 5/32 ball bearings.

I treated the bike to an FSA headset with cartridge bearings.

I attempted to drift out the old races but they are well and truly in, besides which the new bearings slot in and dont touch the old races.

The thing is, From reading threads on here I thought I would have to press or drift the new bearings in. The reality is that they dropped in and flopped about like a whores, you get the idea !

Once the whole rig was assembled and adjusted everything appears to be seated properly, the bearings are sillllllllkkky smooth and silent.

The question is, should they have been sloppy on assembly or have I just been lucky that ill fitting parts some how work. I dont want to damage my frame or forks and would rather get the proper deal if there is something wrong here.

Cheer

Al

nicklouse

Sounds like you have not fitted the correct headset.

Which FSA headset was it?

gds08

Most if not all the Allez range dont have a separate 'race' as such. The head tube is machined to accept either a sealed bearing with 45 degree shamfered casing both top and bottom or a shamfered casing which holds a flimsy cage with loads of tiny bearings much like the Campagnolo headsets. These will be of the fully concealed/integrated type. Either type will be perfectly OK and the bearing cases will just flop in and out and should not need any pressing in or drifting out. I've changed loads of these and it's a 10 minute job and no special tools are needed. Sounds like you've done OK and if it's all working fine I'd leave it alone other than to check for any slight freeplay in the bearing after your first ride as very often the bearing will 'seat' a little and require a tiny amount of tightening up.
Hope this helps. Graham

dragonontheedge

nicklouse wrote:

Sounds like you have not fitted the correct headset.

Which FSA headset was it?

The number on the box is W-TH-NO-18

I took another look at it last night. The lower bearing is not a bad fit. The internal chamferred edge of the bottom bearing matches perfectly with the chamfer on the steerer. The cup into which the lower bearing fits is fairly snug in the head tube. The upper face of the bearing sits on the pressed in original race in the head tube. With pre tension taken up the bearing sits square in the bottom of the head tube with no movement at all.

The upper bearing is a very snug fit on the steerer. Externally it is a little loose in the head tube but once pre tension has been adjusted the outer chamfer sits nice and snug in the top of the head tube. Again there is no movement and it sits exactly square.

Obviously the lower bearing is the critical one. The interface between the steerer and bearing is spot on. The only caveat being the fit of the cup to the head tube. The head tube itself seems extremely robust at the bottom so would the bearing and frame be safe with it fitted as described above ?

Cheers

Al

dragonontheedge

The FSA turned out to be a big flop. No slack but hugely noisy so within 18 miles it was ditched.

I now have a rather sweet looking Cane Creek Integrated IS 41 fitted. It looks and feels superb and is silent as a church mouse.

I would like to thank Cycle UK in Maidstone who fitted the bike in as mega urgent job, did a superb job and charged just £20.

Chuffed to bits