Tandem headset recomendations ?

For discussions about bikes and equipment.
Post Reply
zenitb
Posts: 832
Joined: 7 Aug 2018, 9:59pm
Contact:

Tandem headset recomendations ?

Post by zenitb »

My current tandem headset has had an increasingly hard life for the last few years. The fork race looks worn out and brinelled to me and although the balls are in good condition, and the steering is still surprisingly smooth I feel a replacement (of this 14 year old component) is well overdue!!!! (I am not sure if someone overtightened the headset at some point or whether its road shock that has pummelled this budget headset)
brinelling.jpg
Giving the hammering the tandem now gets (two or three rides a week on potholed roads) I was considering something chunky like the heavy FSA Pig.
the pig.JPG
However I know there are many forum members on here with more experience of this than me so wondered what recommendations people have ?

Its a basic (but solid and stable) Viking tandem with a standard 1 1/8" aheadset arrangement.. Ideally this would be something reasonably priced, robust and easily servicable but really I will listen to any recommendations...

Cheers

George
rjb
Posts: 7199
Joined: 11 Jan 2007, 10:25am
Location: Somerset (originally 60/70's Plymouth)

Re: Tandem headset recomendations ?

Post by rjb »

Tandems do seem to be prone to wear on the headset. Probably due to the loading of 2 riders. I've noticed my Dawes Discovery tandem goes through
1,1/8 headsets faster than my solos. You could dispense with the ball bearing cage as it allows you to add more loose balls. If your current races are brinelled then extra loose balls can help extend its life as not all the balls line up with the pits in the races. It's only the lower race which takes a pummeling. :wink:
At the last count:- Peugeot 531 pro, Dawes Discovery Tandem, Dawes Kingpin X3, Raleigh 20 stowaway, 1965 Moulton deluxe, Falcon K2 MTB dropped bar tourer, Rudge Bi frame folder, Longstaff trike conversion on a Giant XTC 840 :D
zenitb
Posts: 832
Joined: 7 Aug 2018, 9:59pm
Contact:

Re: Tandem headset recomendations ?

Post by zenitb »

rjb wrote: 6 Jun 2023, 6:28pm ..... You could dispense with the ball bearing cage as it allows you to add more loose balls. If your current races are brinelled then extra loose balls can help extend its life as not all the balls line up with the pits in the races. It's only the lower race which takes a pummeling. :wink:
That is a very tempting idea given the amount of time I have spent fixing bikes recently rjb - and the lazy part of me is sorely tempted!! The guilty part of me feels I have left this far too long already though and should be going for a longer term fix 😔

You don't recall what headset you bought for your Discovery do you? Did you source something specific or was it just a run of the mill generic thing you put in?
rjb
Posts: 7199
Joined: 11 Jan 2007, 10:25am
Location: Somerset (originally 60/70's Plymouth)

Re: Tandem headset recomendations ?

Post by rjb »

zenitb wrote: 6 Jun 2023, 6:54pm
rjb wrote: 6 Jun 2023, 6:28pm ..... You could dispense with the ball bearing cage as it allows you to add more loose balls. If your current races are brinelled then extra loose balls can help extend its life as not all the balls line up with the pits in the races. It's only the lower race which takes a pummeling. :wink:
That is a very tempting idea given the amount of time I have spent fixing bikes recently rjb - and the lazy part of me is sorely tempted!! The guilty part of me feels I have left this far too long already though and should be going for a longer term fix 😔

You don't recall what headset you bought for your Discovery do you? Did you source something specific or was it just a run of the mill generic thing you put in?
It was one I salvaged from a scrap bike. :oops:
I only replaced the bottom race and fork crown race and loose balled them at the time.
These m part one are good value IMO. One review gave it a low score as it was loose balled. A bonus in my view. https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/headsets/mp ... set-black/
The top cap is rubbish so use your existing one.
At the last count:- Peugeot 531 pro, Dawes Discovery Tandem, Dawes Kingpin X3, Raleigh 20 stowaway, 1965 Moulton deluxe, Falcon K2 MTB dropped bar tourer, Rudge Bi frame folder, Longstaff trike conversion on a Giant XTC 840 :D
zenitb
Posts: 832
Joined: 7 Aug 2018, 9:59pm
Contact:

Re: Tandem headset recomendations ?

Post by zenitb »

rjb wrote: 6 Jun 2023, 7:32pm
zenitb wrote: 6 Jun 2023, 6:54pm
rjb wrote: 6 Jun 2023, 6:28pm ..... You could dispense with the ball bearing cage as it allows you to add more loose balls. If your current races are brinelled then extra loose balls can help extend its life as not all the balls line up with the pits in the races. It's only the lower race which takes a pummeling. :wink:
That is a very tempting idea given the amount of time I have spent fixing bikes recently rjb - and the lazy part of me is sorely tempted!! The guilty part of me feels I have left this far too long already though and should be going for a longer term fix 😔

You don't recall what headset you bought for your Discovery do you? Did you source something specific or was it just a run of the mill generic thing you put in?
It was one I salvaged from a scrap bike. :oops:
I only replaced the bottom race and fork crown race and loose balled them at the time.
These m part one are good value IMO. One review gave it a low score as it was loose balled. A bonus in my view. https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/headsets/mp ... set-black/
The top cap is rubbish so use your existing one.
Many thanks rjb!!
rjb
Posts: 7199
Joined: 11 Jan 2007, 10:25am
Location: Somerset (originally 60/70's Plymouth)

Re: Tandem headset recomendations ?

Post by rjb »

Here's a link to those m part headsets I posted previously.
viewtopic.php?t=129433
The design of these means you can use either the top or bottom race assembly in the bottom race so if you just fit one in the lower race you have a spare for next time. :D
At the last count:- Peugeot 531 pro, Dawes Discovery Tandem, Dawes Kingpin X3, Raleigh 20 stowaway, 1965 Moulton deluxe, Falcon K2 MTB dropped bar tourer, Rudge Bi frame folder, Longstaff trike conversion on a Giant XTC 840 :D
Jodel
Posts: 60
Joined: 27 Oct 2020, 8:19pm

Re: Tandem headset recomendations ?

Post by Jodel »

My Orbit tandem came with a Tange headset. I believe it is a bit of a hybrid, with larger bearings on the bottom race and 'normal' bearings on the top race.

https://tangeseiki.com/jm/products/head ... under.html

It was worked well for many years and shows no signs of notchiness / brinelling - but it does get an annual service / regrease. The FSA one you've looked at appears to be very similar to the Tange one I have, so should do the job.
zenitb
Posts: 832
Joined: 7 Aug 2018, 9:59pm
Contact:

Re: Tandem headset recomendations ?

Post by zenitb »

rjb wrote: 6 Jun 2023, 7:40pm Here's a link to those m part headsets I posted previously.
viewtopic.php?t=129433
The design of these means you can use either the top or bottom race assembly in the bottom race so if you just fit one in the lower race you have a spare for next time. :D
Great to see Brucey's view from back then. The "two for one" aspect is definitely a pro ...
zenitb
Posts: 832
Joined: 7 Aug 2018, 9:59pm
Contact:

Re: Tandem headset recomendations ?

Post by zenitb »

Jodel wrote: 6 Jun 2023, 8:04pm My Orbit tandem came with a Tange headset. I believe it is a bit of a hybrid, with larger bearings on the bottom race and 'normal' bearings on the top race.

https://tangeseiki.com/jm/products/head ... under.html

It was worked well for many years and shows no signs of notchiness / brinelling - but it does get an annual service / regrease. The FSA one you've looked at appears to be very similar to the Tange one I have, so should do the job.
Wow .. that certainly looks a meaty headset. Very interesting that it has lasted you that long. It is made by Tange of course, so a quality name. Its interesting that tandem specialists Orbit put that on as original kit as well. It certainly makes a good case for trying a "big balls" type lower headset .. Thanks for posting Jodel.
User avatar
531colin
Posts: 16083
Joined: 4 Dec 2009, 6:56pm
Location: North Yorkshire

Re: Tandem headset recomendations ?

Post by 531colin »

You can sometimes get a bit more life out of a pitted headset by removing the crown race and (bottom) head cup and re-installing them rotated 90 degrees, so the pits don't line up....only worth doing if you can't source a proper replacement in a sensible time.
(its usually the "front" of the lower race which gets pitted, due to the load...top head cup and adjusting race are usually OK)
torquerulesok
Posts: 23
Joined: 22 Jul 2013, 1:15pm

Re: Tandem headset recomendations ?

Post by torquerulesok »

The Stronglight headset on our Thorn Adventure Tandem has been going for almost 20 years without any problems.

https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/headsets/st ... g-headset/
User avatar
531colin
Posts: 16083
Joined: 4 Dec 2009, 6:56pm
Location: North Yorkshire

Re: Tandem headset recomendations ?

Post by 531colin »

torquerulesok wrote: 9 Jul 2023, 10:36pm The Stronglight headset on our Thorn Adventure Tandem has been going for almost 20 years without any problems.

https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/headsets/st ... g-headset/
I've got one of those A9 headsets, brand new in box, and a spare caged roller race. For a charity donation, if anybody wants a decent old-fashioned 1" threaded headset.
markjohnobrien
Posts: 1037
Joined: 4 Oct 2007, 8:15pm

Re: Tandem headset recomendations ?

Post by markjohnobrien »

531colin wrote: 10 Jul 2023, 12:16pm
torquerulesok wrote: 9 Jul 2023, 10:36pm The Stronglight headset on our Thorn Adventure Tandem has been going for almost 20 years without any problems.

https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/headsets/st ... g-headset/
I've got one of those A9 headsets, brand new in box, and a spare caged roller race. For a charity donation, if anybody wants a decent old-fashioned 1" threaded headset.
Hello, I’ll take it. Will send PM. Thank you.
Raleigh Randonneur 708 (Magura hydraulic brakes); Blue Raleigh Randonneur 708 dynamo; Pearson Compass 631 tourer; Dawes One Down 631 dynamo winter bike;Raleigh Travelogue 708 tourer dynamo; Kona Sutra; Trek 920 disc Sram Force.
NickJP
Posts: 797
Joined: 24 Sep 2018, 7:11pm
Location: Canberra, OZ

Re: Tandem headset recomendations ?

Post by NickJP »

I don't know if they are still made, but when I put our second tandem together about 20 years ago, I used a Stronglight 1-1/8" headset that has needle roller bearings both top and bottom, and the bearings still seem perfect after two decades of use. It has a tall top cap with the text "Headstrong" engraved on it.

However, I just browsed the Stronglight website, and it seems to indicate that their headsets now use annular ball bearings rather than needle roller.
zenitb
Posts: 832
Joined: 7 Aug 2018, 9:59pm
Contact:

Re: Tandem headset recomendations ?

Post by zenitb »

Thanks Nick
The O'Light seems to be their offering for my threadless set up.. looks chunky and would probably do the trick ..
stronglight headset.JPG
Post Reply