Bearings in headset

[scotsbikester]

Or you can go loose, in which case you want one extra bearing over caged.

I put six extra in. Will I destroy my headset?

If you look at the actual picture of my headset, you will count 28 balls. The original caged balls had 22 per cage.

If I had followed your "put one extra in" there would have been a gap of about 5 balls, plus a bit. That doesn't sound good to me. The headset isn't in constant rotation. It seems to me that there's a fair chance of all the spaces gathering in one place, particularly given the motion of the steerer. So you could end up with one big gap.

What I have heard elsewhere is the opposite to your proposal. Fill the race and take one out. I think that's what I did. If you look at the photo you'll see one gap of about half a ball, and a few other places where the balls aren't making contact. If there are too many balls in there, it will become obvious when you're trying to adjust the headset pre-load, as they will bind.

https://forum.cyclinguk.org/viewtopic.php?t=87163

Mine don't bind, the steer rotates very freely. Locking the brakes and trying the rocking back and forth test, I can't feel any play.

In the spring annual service I may open the bearings and inspect.

 

[scotsbikester]

Put the bike frame upside down to fill the bottom race ?

Yes, and then use a bungee to stop the fork falling out when you turn it the right way up.

 

[Moodyman]

@scotsbikester there's something immensely satisfying about the work in your pic. Me likes.

I also agree with the advice to fill the cup and then remove one ball to allow free movement.

 

[fossyant]

I've done similar with the Shimano cartridge bearings in the past. These are an unusual design in that the balls are caged inside the cartridge. Due to age, and un-availability of these cartridges, I separated one and replaced with loose bearings and re-assembled it - this also helps avoid the pitting you can get with regularly spaced bearings.

 

[MontyVeda]

I seem to recall a similar thread and someone stated that lose/caged headset bearings will be one of only two sizes. I've no idea if that's true or not. Can anyone clarify?

 

[Brianeromi]

I don't think they are the same thing

 

[Milzy]

I seem to recall a similar thread and someone stated that lose/caged headset bearings will be one of only two sizes. I've no idea if that's true or not. Can anyone clarify?

The first set I bought were the right Diameter but had over sized bearings so was probably for some Mountain bikes. Found a pair of normal on Amazon for £3.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Your headset isn't constantly spinning at speed. Unless you're a really bad cyclist.

I think that would make you a very weird cyclist but not necessarily bad

 

[Milzy]

I need smaller bearings in this headset any ideas what size they are? Old crane creek.
The ones on the right are required.
TIA

 

[Big John]

If you had a spoke measuring ruler you could have used that because it has holes in the ruler for measuring bearings. You need to take the old bearings into your lbs and see if they've got replacements. They may be 3/16 or 5/32 but without measuring I haven't got a clue.

 

[Milzy]

The ones on the left are 5/32. I might buy one of those rules. So what you reckon the ones on the right are small!

 

[midlife]

Back in my day normal headset were 3/16. Small bearings in Campagnolo pista and gram sport were 5/32.

They must be tiny if they are smaller than 5/32.

 

[Milzy]

Back in my day normal headset were 3/16. Small bearings in Campagnolo pista and gram sport were 5/32.

They must be tiny if they are smaller than 5/32.

They are 1/8 balls then. Don’t even think you can buy the right size cage with those in.

 

[MontyVeda]

this is what i found in my headset...



5/32" bearing on the right for scale... and a digital calliper, also for scale.

2.58mm, in imperial that appears to be slap bang in the middle of 3/32" and 7/64"

 

[Big John]

They look like the little bleeders you get in a typical Shimano freehub. The mere sight of them brings me out in a cold sweat. They are the spawn of satan. How on earth do they withstand the rigours of taking the stresses in a headset?