I'm on a build with a mate from work, just a bit of fun. Bike is likely to end up being little more than a pop to the shop type of thing. the victim bike is a Specalized Centrum.
Cost £50, and really he just wanted to play around with a bike a bit, while maybe adding a bit of custom bling.
Anyway i said i'd help to get it back to health, before he started spending any money on it. Its all good, (when i finally got the BB out).
In fact it hardly been used, i think just put together 1) badly, 2) with no grease... The headset being the only issue, very grabby and rough. I needed some effort to undo the top cap and the stem was barely finger tight...
No grease and the bearings and cages were shot and incomplete. Integrated Headset, 1 1/8 steerer, i was expecting a seal bearing unit, but it wasn't. bearings in a cage.
I picked up replacement bearing race, slightly suspicous that it would be the wrong size, but for £1.50 little to lose. It fits on the ID but not on the OD. Its a bit big.
The one i brought was 5/32 with 22 bearings. On more detailed examination of the one which came out. It appears to be 23 bearings size 1/8. which i can't seem to buy as a unit.
My thoughts are to buy some 1/8 bearings and try and fit them loose or clean up and bend the original cage back into shape . Won't cost much if it doesn't work.
Buying a new headset is an option i'm trying to avoid.
Any advice, the bearings seem pretty small and are measuring in around 2.9-3.1mm on my calipers.
Headset Help - Bearing Sizes
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- Posts: 2920
- Joined: 9 Jun 2008, 8:06pm
Re: Headset Help - Bearing Sizes
You don't need the cage. It is only there to make things easier and because fewer balls can be used (saves the maker 5p per bike).
Balls could be 1/8", although it's not a common size on bikes - used in freewheels and some pedals, usually. A good pair of calipers will tell you.
Put enough balls in to fill the race, then take one out.
Balls could be 1/8", although it's not a common size on bikes - used in freewheels and some pedals, usually. A good pair of calipers will tell you.
Put enough balls in to fill the race, then take one out.
Re: Headset Help - Bearing Sizes
They seem to be 1/8 in size. measured on my calipers they are averaging around 3mm, they do look a bit smaller than i would expect. but i don't think they were ever 5/32. the 5/32 in the race does not fit.
In general i think my concern is that
1) i was not expecting this in a integrated headset.
2) they are small.
In general i think my concern is that
1) i was not expecting this in a integrated headset.
2) they are small.
Re: Headset Help - Bearing Sizes
I had similar in a Spec. Not the highest spec bike and things like this are cost cutting. Titchy bearings.