Headset bearings

[accountantpete]

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

You have a semi-integrated headset - these come with either caged bearings or sealed bearings and both work perfectly well. It sounds like they fitted whatever was to hand.

To convert it to sealed bearings you would need a tapered semi integrated headset to fit the ID of your headtube, then remove the existing crown race and pop on the new one with an angular contact race.

Personally I'd stick with the caged bearings - some sealed bearings from tapered headsets are difficult to obtain without buying a whole new headset.

 

[Jason.T]

Excellent thanks

You have a semi-integrated headset - these come with either caged bearings or sealed bearings and both work perfectly well. It sounds like they fitted whatever was to hand.

To convert it to sealed bearings you would need a tapered semi integrated headset to fit the ID of your headtube, then remove the existing crown race and pop on the new one with an angular contact race.

Personally I'd stick with the caged bearings - some sealed bearings from tapered headsets are difficult to obtain without buying a whole new headset.

excellent thanks, my headset is tapered and as it works fine with the current bearings I probably now will stick to those type as they are far cheaper

The biggest problem is finding them, although I have now found some it was a nightmare to find and hope they continue to stock then otherwise I've got a headache on my hands the next time I need them

 

[ianbone1]

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.​

Just to confirm to everyone, I have a Boardman Team Carbon March 2014 Purchase, and the 2 links here to the UK Bike Store are the correct bearings for the headset.
I ordered them from these 2 links, and the arrived next day, and slotted into place in under 10 mins! No more gritty steering! Thanks for the links.