New build carbon frame

Gathy
Gathy Posts: 4
edited October 2015 in Workshop
Hello guys,
I'm hoping someone can clear this up for me as I've never come across it in 30 years of cycling and building.

I've got a new carbon frame with so called integrated headset.
I've built many bikes mainly spesh though and all seemed to have a ali bearing race built into the frames headtub.this new frame is just tapered carbon moulded with the frame which is odd in my experience..

Anybody shine a light on it ?

Comments

  • 964cup
    964cup Posts: 1,362
    [url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19715790#p19715790]Gathy[/url] wrote:
    Hello guys,
    I'm hoping someone can clear this up for me as I've never come across it in 30 years of cycling and building.

    I've got a new carbon frame with so called integrated headset.
    I've built many bikes mainly spesh though and all seemed to have a ali bearing race built into the frames headtub.this new frame is just tapered carbon moulded with the frame which is odd in my experience..

    Anybody shine a light on it ?
    Normal. Bearings just drop in (top and bottom). Fork may well have an integrated carbon crown race too. Will be fine as long as you use the right size and angle bearings. Frame manual (if it doesn't come with the headset) should at least specify the correct type.
  • Gathy
    Gathy Posts: 4
    Thanks 964cup, im just a bit sceptical about the strengths of carbon holding my bearings in.
    Will the bearings not wear away at the headstock after time leaving the frame buggered.

    Also do I need to fix them in with something ? (Expanding foam lol)
  • 964cup
    964cup Posts: 1,362
    No. There's not much stress on headset bearings assuming you preload properly - after all, you're not twirling the bars the whole time. Definitely don't try to fix them in; a little grease on the outside is all you need. I have half a dozen bikes with integrated carbon bearing seats (and most of them have integrated crown races, too) and have had no problems in 10's of thousands of KM (if you don't count the original Cane Creek headset in my R5Ca, but that's nothing to do with the bearing seats and everything to do with using teflon instead of ball bearings in order to save 10g; f'in stupid idea, which is why everyone who actually rides that frame ends up changing to conventional cartridge bearings).
  • imposter2.0
    imposter2.0 Posts: 12,028
    [url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19715904#p19715904]Gathy[/url] wrote:
    Thanks 964cup, im just a bit sceptical about the strengths of carbon holding my bearings in.
    Will the bearings not wear away at the headstock after time leaving the frame buggered.

    Also do I need to fix them in with something ? (Expanding foam lol)

    The bearings will be cartridge - not loose ball. They are self-contained, so will not wear anything away.
  • Gathy
    Gathy Posts: 4
    Many thanks guys ,your help is much appreciated.
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    My CR1 frame arrived with the BB installed but the headset components in a plastic bag. (Ritchey WCS carbon integrated something) I had to press the alu bearing cups into the headtube, then the cartridge bearings themselves just dropped into these.

    2 years on and everything's still smooth and rattle-free.

    Did your frame come with any instructions / specs?

Categories