upgrading a raleigh retro headset
- Thread starter 2clepto
- Start date
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raleighnut
Legendary Member
- Location
- One of the 'Elite'
Not really, unless the headset is kippered.
KneesUp
Guru
I'm sat here looking at my new headset for my c.1993 Muddy Fox - I wouldn't really bother changing one unless it was shot. I've got tired of tightening mine up, and new bearings seem to have made no difference, so I've got one with cartridge bearings to go in. I just need to beg/borrow the tools now - that's the tricky bit!
thanks. i just got interested over the weekend in changing the headset to something classy/cheap like a shimano 600 headset. im still researching it and the tools and got a rubber hammer today.
im just interested in learning the techniques required. but any advice is always welcome. since the weekend ive come to appreciate how good the standard headset is in the 90's raleigh i was going to change over.
raleighnut
Legendary Member
- Location
- One of the 'Elite'
Normally at that vintage it was still a good quality steel used to make them, the older 'Raleighs own in house size' ones were even better.
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
You may find that the Shimano 600 headset isn't cheap. You may get a 105 cartridge one.
My Dura Ace headsets (I have a spare) are pushing about £80 these days.
You may need your steerer cut or use a spacer as the Shimano headsets are a fairly low stack height.
My Dura Ace headsets (I have a spare) are pushing about £80 these days.
You may need your steerer cut or use a spacer as the Shimano headsets are a fairly low stack height.
raleighnut
Legendary Member
- Location
- One of the 'Elite'
I fitted a 105 headset to my Worksop built Raleigh but only cos it was just a frame (got a nice pair of NOS 531 chrome plated 1" threaded forks for it from John)
Big_Dave
The unlikely Cyclist
- Location
- Alfreton, Derbyshire
have you got any close up pics of the headset fitted, my headset on my 501 frame is still the original headset, If I swap it I could save about a kilo
raleighnut
Legendary Member
- Location
- One of the 'Elite'
No sorry, no piccies- no Digital camera. My photography is all 35mm and normally B+W but once I'm back at work I may get a digital body to accept my Pentax and Tamron lenses. 
Still, look on the bright side at least your headset won't wear out or start creaking for a long while.
Still, look on the bright side at least your headset won't wear out or start creaking for a long while.
KneesUp
Guru
No sorry, no piccies- no Digital camera. My photography is all 35mm and normally B+W but once I'm back at work I may get a digital body to accept my Pentax and Tamron lenses.
Still, look on the bright side at least your headset won't wear out or start creaking for a long while.
K5s look great value at the moment
Big_Dave
The unlikely Cyclist
- Location
- Alfreton, Derbyshire
lol, my headset is 26years old, although it weighs half as much as the frame it is in perfect working order, I want to go back to a standard quill, it's on quill to aheaset and 31.8 bars. I need a 60mm reach quill stem and 25.4/42cm bars, the originals were bast there best, but the aheadset looks too bulky for the frame and annoys the crap out of me.No sorry, no piccies- no Digital camera. My photography is all 35mm and normally B+W but once I'm back at work I may get a digital body to accept my Pentax and Tamron lenses.
Still, look on the bright side at least your headset won't wear out or start creaking for a long while.
raleighnut
Legendary Member
- Location
- One of the 'Elite'
I've been on SSP and now ESA for a year, all my spare dosh went on the trike (and now the electric front wheel conversion kit cos I live on top of a hill/ ridge) but the legs healing OK now so hopefully 'the new year' I'll be working again.K5s look great value at the moment
what in your opinion is the benefits with dura ace over the raleighs? weight and smoothness?
