Cycling UK Forum

Thanks all, that’s really helpful. The other bikes were both originally specced with Shimano 105s with the 32.5 mil stack height, so there is relatively little threaded tube left! Rudelli Misura headsets were a lifesaver when I replaced the Shimano headsets as they had the long life roller bearings and a similar stack. The Randonneur 708 takes a much more standard size and came with a Campagnolo headset which had a roller in the bottom and ball bearing in the top, but the lower cup was a terrible fit in the frame head tube - the Stronglight Delta was a good fit, so that was what I went with. I have been busy with the calipers this afternoon and may see whether I can find a cartridge bearing that might fit.

The problem seems to be that the chamfered 45 degree part of these cartridge bearings is very thin and if used seems likely to embed itself in the soft aluminium of the cups. A worn roller bearing track, if retained, might spread the load, if it doesn’t add too much to the stack height. All assuming that I can’t find a NOS bearing when the time comes, or just swap the top and bottom bearings. Thing is, I’m already dealing with second hand stuff so who knows how much life they have left.

If I ever find a replacement cartridge bearing that might work I will post the details here.

This isn’t an urgent query, but having recently got back into cycle touring, and rebuilding old bikes in the winter from second hand eBay parts, my thoughts turned to stocking a few spares.

I have just installed a second hand Stronglight Delta headset into a second hand Raleigh Randonneur 708 frame, and reflecting that it was the third bike in my possession that has a needle roller headset, I was disturbed to find that replacement bearings are difficult to find. I appreciate that, well maintained, these bearings can outlast the bike, not to mention the owner (!) but a spare set would be a good thing to have.

The other two bikes have low stack height Rudelli Misura-type headsets, so replacing the entire headset, when the time comes, will not be straightforward. Has anyone found a source for these bearings (and the tracks) which they would willing to share? Or failing that, has anyone successfully substituted one of those cartridge sealed type bearings with the 45 degree bevelled surfaces instead of the loose bearing tracks and caged rollers?