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