Headsets

lackofgrip

I recently purchased two Ribble frames on eBay and am wanting to build them up.

The only thing I have to go on is the fact that bottom bearings from both headtubes were left in the frames.

I have taken the best photos I can.

The one from the white frame is slightly larger OD and has the following written on it best I can make out is MH-P08 (o41.8x6.5x45) but obviously its rubbed and I cannot be accurate.

It's probably worth pointing out that the inner bearing rings are both 1"1/8th

Any help would be much appreciated, I emailed Ribble and they said it requires the same 45x45 headset for both. But with them being different sizes I'm asking for probably more reliable advice on here.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/95736461@N03/

maddog 2

bigger one is 41.8mm as you say, and the smaller one will be 41.0mm I bet.

if both are 45deg so search on Campagnolo bearing, as that's what the 45x45deg is often called.

here's are some 41.8mm
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FSA-TH-870-MR ... 27dbf7b436
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VP-Components ... 485dd838a6
http://superstar.tibolts.co.uk/product_ ... cts_id=439

and here's a 41mm (MHP-03)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Headset-Beari ... 1e83a7c990

..but looking at the second pic it says 36x45, not 45x45 so either the previous owner has fitted the wrong bearing or has actually fitted the correct bearing but changed the crown race at the same time to a 36deg version.

In other words, the bearing's outer chamfer is always 45 deg. It's the inner chamfer that can be either 45deg or the shallower 36deg. As long as the inner chamfer matches the crown race (lower) or the wedge (upper) then it'll be fine. And in truth you can mix them up and you won't die.. but it will wear the bearing more quickly, particularly the bottom one.

lackofgrip

I need the full headsets though :-/

maddog 2

well a new headset will come with it's own crown race and top wedge so the angle isn't an issue. You just need to match the outer diameter (41mm or 41.8mm) to your frame.

Search on intergrated 1 1/8 headset. I think the Cane Creek ones are 41mm but maybe FSA/Ritchey are the bigger 41.8mm...? Let me check.

lackofgrip

maddog 2 wrote:

well a new headset will come with it's own crown race and top wedge so the angle isn't an issue. You just need to match the outer diameter (41mm or 41.8mm) to your frame.

Search on intergrate 1 1/8 headset. I think the Cane Creek ones are 41mm but maybe FSA/Ritchey are the bigger 41.8mm...? Let me check.

Thanks for your help, think the blue audax will take a standard ribble 45 45

It's just the white frame I'm struggling with

maddog 2

FSA Orbit CE Plus is 45x45 with a 41.8mm outer diameter (OD)

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/fsa- ... prod108128

see http://www.fullspeedahead.com/storage/i ... 20Plus.pdf for the tech specs

There may be a better quality headset out there though

maddog 2

FSA Orbit CF looks like it has proper cartridge bearings

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/fsa- ... -prod12760

and the same 41.8mm OD as the Orbit CE

http://www.fullspeedahead.com/storage/i ... t%20CF.pdf

lackofgrip

maddog 2 wrote:

FSA Orbit CF looks like it has proper cartridge bearings

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/fsa- ... -prod12760

and the same 41.8mm OD as the Orbit CE

http://www.fullspeedahead.com/storage/i ... t%20CF.pdf

The ORbit CE looks ok but the height says 8mm in the spec but on the one i have removed it says 6.5mm??

Maybe I'm missing something?

maddog 2

yeah the FSA ones look like 8mm stack

The MHP-08 units here
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Headset-Beari ... 57&afsrc=1

are 6.5mm stack (I know because I have the same ones in the workshop)

Do you really need a whole headset? Integrated headsets are only:
- two bearings
- a top wedge
- a top cover
- crown race
and it's usually only the bearings that wear out...

lackofgrip

Yeah need the full lot as building from scratch

maddog 2

this has a lower stack and is listed as 45x45 and 41.8mm

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ritc ... -prod39378

lackofgrip

Cheers, will get something sorted over the weekend, hopefully.

maddog 2

another one

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-t ... 0000000000
and
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ITM-1-1-8-A-H ... 35ce0b2db0

doesn't say the stack though, although the photo suggests the bearings are fairly thin...

lackofgrip

Yeah I was just looking at the ITM one myself. I'v emailed ribble for stack height of bearings. Do they have to be exactly the same?

maddog 2

if the replacement has a significantly greater stack then you may get a gap between the bottom of the headtube and the top of the fork crown. The difference between 8mm for the FSA and 6.5mm for the current bearing is 1.5mm, so the gap would be this. It would look a bit odd and water could get in more easily.

lackofgrip

Maybe this is the daddy!!

http://www.highonbikes.com/controls/hea ... qwjdvRdV8E

maddog 2

yep, looks good.

HighOn is the best shop there is too.