Bicycle Mechanics - loose-ball headset question - how many bearings?

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brokenrobot
04-20-05, 12:36 PM
I'm repacking a loose-ball headset on a used bike I just picked up, and it appears that the lower race has more bearings than the upper race. I'm going to replace the bearings, but am I correct in assuming that BBs have just gone missing from the upper half, and that both upper and lower should have the same number of ball bearings? The headset was WAY too loose when I bought the bike, so I wouldn't be surprised if some BBs had gone wandering... but the races themselves seem smooth, so I'd like to avoid replacing the entire headset...

Thanks!

-chris

powers2b
04-20-05, 12:38 PM
Make sure all the balls are the same size, pack the cup with grease and put as many as you can in the cup then remove one ball. That is the correct amount.
Yes, both cups should be filled.

Enjoy
brokenrobot
04-20-05, 12:44 PM
Excellent, thanks! That's what I figured, but I wanted to be certain before I went out to buy new bearings ;)