Headset bearings

[Jason.T]

Wet bank holiday so gave the bike a once over, had some clicking/grinding in my headset so stripped down degreesed regressed, although much better I will need to replace the bearings on the next strip down

This is my problem, for the life of me I canot find the bearings I need

It's a boardman team carbon, doesn't have sealed bearings just the open bearings and cage

The bottom bearing cage is larger than the top, I can get a complete headset which is the fsa orbit c-40 (I believe) for £50

I only want the damn bearing and cage which surely can't be much more than a few quid each

I phoned halfords yesterday and they can get me the bottom one for £15, not paying that when I've seen similar on eBay for about £3

The problem is I just can't find any info on what size I need

Anyone know????

 

[Jason.T]

I think I'm going to have to take them out and go to the lbs and try size them up

 

[winjim]

http://www.fullspeedahead.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/087_NO_42-CF-ACB.pdf

 

[Jason.T]

Chee

http://www.fullspeedahead.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/087_NO_42-CF-ACB.pdf

cheers but this is still wrecking my brain, I've googled countless times the bearing codes including the ones from the link you gave me but it just keeps coming up with sealed bearings like the first pic, it's the bearings in the second pic is what I need but it's easier to find fairy dust

 

[fossyant]

They will be cartridge bearings, and Halfords Quote is OK. £3 quote from ebay isn't.

You will have a 1 1/8th top and 1 1/2 bottom. If you can take them out. On the side will be printed either 36 or 45, which is the bearing angle.

You can pop the seals off the bearings and put a load of grease in. If still rough, it's knackered.

Plus side it's much easier than the old systems that needed a whole headset.

 

[fossyant]

Looking at the pic, the cartridge has fallen to bits.

 

[Jason.T]

The

Looking at the pic, the cartridge has fallen to bits.

the second pic isn't of mine it's a pic I found on google

I may need to look at mine again as maybe my actual cartridge has fallen to bits

After I've taken my stem and spacers off I'm left with 2 bearing races 1 plastic and a metal one that fits inside of that once the are removed all I have is a bearing cage full of ball bearings that are just sat in a cup

When I've taken the spacers plastic and metal race all I can see is bearings like the below pic

 

[Jason.T]

Hope this helps a bit

This is basically what I see when I've removed my spacers races and dropped the forks out

No cartridge and no seal

 

[Svendo]

If the cage is serviceable you could just replace the balls. Weldtite off that ebay will do the job. Like Fossy above I'm suprised they're not cartridges though, but cartridges can be rebuilt too, although the seals are never quite as good.

 

[Jason.T]

If the cage is serviceable you could just replace the balls. Weldtite off that ebay will do the job. Like Fossy above I'm suprised they're not cartridges though, but cartridges can be rebuilt too, although the seals are never quite as good.[/QU

I've finally managed to find some,

I definetily have the fsa orbit c-40 headset and everything points to that said headset should be using cartridge bearings

Upon hours of searching I've found the identical bearings and they are from the fsa big fat pig headset

I don't know if it was a mistake coming out of the manufacturers like that (bike bought new) or that's what is supposed to be used

I've now ordered some but in the meantime I will investigate wether cartridge bearings will fit, would be far easier for the future

 

[Jason.T]

I've finally managed to find some

I definetily have the fsa orbit c-40 headset and everything points to that said headset should be using cartridge bearings

Upon hours of searching I've found the identical bearings and they are from the fsa big fat pig headset

I don't know if it was a mistake coming out of the manufacturers like that (bike bought new) or that's what is supposed to be used

I've now ordered some but in the meantime I will investigate wether cartridge bearings will fit, would be far easier for the future

 

[slug56]

If you have the C-40, I had the issue of replacing my Boardman Road Comp's headset bearings a few months ago. Here is a post I left on another forum:

Just stumbled across this post in my quest to replace my headset bearings for my Boardman Road Comp (2012). Just to verify we're talking about the same bike, it's this one - https://web.archive.org/web/20130110011328/http://www.boardmanbikes.com/road/road_comp.html

I suffered the 'rusty smear' from the headset many months ago, and since then things have been going downhill. A trip to Halfords revealed that the headset is the FSA Orbit C-40 ACB (Angular Contact Bearings), link here: http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_972272_langId_-1_categoryId_210157. However, I didn't fancy paying upwards of £50 for it.

I'm at the point now where no matter how much I tighten the top bolt (with the stem bolts loose, of course), I'll get knocking noises and the headset will seem to work its way loose, at which point I have to repeat the process. I've tried stripping down the entire assembly, cleaning, regreasing, checking the compression plug, spacers etc... But I think it's my bearings that are shot.

A bit more digging revealed the individual part numbers for the upper and lower bearings.

Upper: FSA TH-870 MR042 1 1/8" ACB 45° x 45° (Part number: 160-6480), Link: http://www.ukbikestore.co.uk/produc...-1-18-acb-45-x-45-campag-headset-bearing.html

Lower: FSA TH-073 MR110 1.5" ACB 36° x 45° (Part number: 160-6740), Link: http://www.ukbikestore.co.uk/produc...073-mr110-15-acb-36-x-45-headset-bearing.html

I've just purchased replacement bearing from the above links, and I'll post back saying whether they've resolved the problem. Well, if I don't post back then assume all is good, otherwise I'll definitely post back if the problem persists or the bearings don't fit.

EDIT: Apologies for replying to a slightly old post, but if someone comes across it in an internet search (as I did), then at least there'll be some information to help them find a solution to their headset woes.​

 

[Jason.T]

If you have the C-40, I had the issue of replacing my Boardman Road Comp's headset bearings a few months ago. Here is a post I left on another forum:

Just stumbled across this post in my quest to replace my headset bearings for my Boardman Road Comp (2012). Just to verify we're talking about the same bike, it's this one - https://web.archive.org/web/20130110011328/http://www.boardmanbikes.com/road/road_comp.html

I suffered the 'rusty smear' from the headset many months ago, and since then things have been going downhill. A trip to Halfords revealed that the headset is the FSA Orbit C-40 ACB (Angular Contact Bearings), link here: http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_972272_langId_-1_categoryId_210157. However, I didn't fancy paying upwards of £50 for it.

I'm at the point now where no matter how much I tighten the top bolt (with the stem bolts loose, of course), I'll get knocking noises and the headset will seem to work its way loose, at which point I have to repeat the process. I've tried stripping down the entire assembly, cleaning, regreasing, checking the compression plug, spacers etc... But I think it's my bearings that are shot.

A bit more digging revealed the individual part numbers for the upper and lower bearings.

Upper: FSA TH-870 MR042 1 1/8" ACB 45° x 45° (Part number: 160-6480), Link: http://www.ukbikestore.co.uk/produc...-1-18-acb-45-x-45-campag-headset-bearing.html

Lower: FSA TH-073 MR110 1.5" ACB 36° x 45° (Part number: 160-6740), Link: http://www.ukbikestore.co.uk/produc...073-mr110-15-acb-36-x-45-headset-bearing.html

I've just purchased replacement bearing from the above links, and I'll post back saying whether they've resolved the problem. Well, if I don't post back then assume all is good, otherwise I'll definitely post back if the problem persists or the bearings don't fit.

EDIT: Apologies for replying to a slightly old post, but if someone comes across it in an internet search (as I did), then at least there'll be some information to help them find a solution to their headset woes.​

Thanks for the links, sorry for the slow reply working nights and been asleep all day

I'm pretty sure now that for whatever reason I have different bearings to what should be in there

Maybe they were put in by error in the manufacturer or by halfords when they build the bike (if halfords assemble the headset)

I definitely have the fsa orbit c-40 headset and a 1.5" tapered cartridge bearing should be in the bottom and a 1.1/8 cartridge bearing in the to

BUT THATS DEFINITELY NOT WHATS IN MINE )

 

[User6179]

Thanks for the links, sorry for the slow reply working nights and been asleep all day

I'm pretty sure now that for whatever reason I have different bearings to what should be in there

Maybe they were put in by error in the manufacturer or by halfords when they build the bike (if halfords assemble the headset)

I definitely have the fsa orbit c-40 headset and a 1.5" tapered cartridge bearing should be in the bottom and a 1.1/8 cartridge bearing in the to

BUT THATS DEFINITELY NOT WHATS IN MINE )

Are the bearing cups removable ?

If the bearing cups are not removable then you would expect cartridge bearings fitted because if the cups wear then the frame is goosed , am sure a few years ago there were bikes like this ( maybe still are) but it is a quite bad design flaw hence the reason for cartridge bearings .

 

[Jason.T]

Are the bearing cups removable ?

If the bearing cups are not removable then you would expect cartridge bearings fitted because if the cups wear then the frame is goosed , am sure a few years ago there were bikes like this ( maybe still are) but it is a quite bad design flaw hence the reason for cartridge bearings .

Yeah the cups are pressed into the frame, after days of searching I'm now convinced that they should be cartridge bearings and not just bearings and cage, it works perfectly fine but I would like to put the proper bearings back in

I'm going to create a post later asking for people with the same bike to let me know what bearings they have in there one just to be sure, need to find someone with the same year and model so I'm 100% sure