Bicycle Mechanics - headset adapter

Hey all I need your help

Below is a picture of what I was told was an adapter for frames with 1"steerer tube to work in conjunction with 1 1/8 headset. If this is the case can somebody please explain how I would use the certain parts? Is it strong and safe? The silver rings are only plastic.

I guess I need detailed instructions on how to set this thing up. I am starting to build my new frame.

the pic

Actually while putting these pieces back in the bag the two silver rings clanged together and they are definetely not plastic. They are metal.

Can someone explain why you would want to use a headset adaptor?
If you have a 1" steerer, use a 1" headset

I have an extra headset already and it happens to be 1 1/8". Is it not appropriate to use the adapter?

Forget the photo. What exactly are you trying to do? Are you trying to install a 1 1/8" headset on a frame with a 1" HEADTUBE???? Or are you trying to install a fork with a 1" steerer tube on a frame with a 1 1/8" headset??? When you say frames with 1" steerer tube, you mean a 1" headtube???? Steerer tubes refer to forks only. Please rephrase your question.

OK, I have a 1" headtube, I have a 1 1/8" headset. I have what was explained to me as an adapter for the conversion but I thought {How could a bigger pipe fit into a smaller one?** I think the headtube is not 1". Is there something bigger than 1 1/8" headtube. You know what I am writing this in the middle of getting power back so I am all over the place and we are probably going to lose power here for the next little while so I will deal with this later. Sorry, thanks for the attempted help. Feel free to respond, I'll get it eventually. Thanks.

By the way.... YAY THE POWER IS BACK ON!!

Originally posted by TotalKos
Is there something bigger than 1 1/8" headtube?
Cannondale and a couple of other manufacturers used to have 1 1/4" headtubes for their Mtb frames several years back. Simply by looking, there's a huge difference in headtube diameters between the two. What frame do you have? Anyway, personally, I've never seen anything like what you're trying to describe or trying to achieve. If you have a 1" headtube, it's so much easier to just get an inexpensive 1" headset.

It's a Giant ATX 890. It's definetely bigger than my Kona Nunu. It probably is 1 1/4", would I still be able to get a headset for it?

i think the giant atx uses the 1 1/8 headtube. did your 1 1/8 headset not fit the headtube or something? what fork (how big steerer diameter) are you trying to put on there?

There are adapters, basicaly like shims that fit in a 1 1/4" head tube to adapt it to a 1 1/8" fork. I believe it is cane creek that also makes a 1 1/4" headset to that will make it work with a 1 1/8" fork.

The fork is a Judy that is 1 1/8". The headset is 1 1/8" and it doesn't fit the headtube.

Cambria sells a headset reducer, if you're headtube is 1 1/4" here is a pic of it..
http://www.cambriabike.com/head_sets/images/headset_reducer.jpg

Originally posted by TotalKos
The fork is a Judy that is 1 1/8". The headset is 1 1/8" and it doesn't fit the headtube.
Mr. TotalKos,

I think I get the picture! You're trying to install your 1 1/8" headset on a 1 1/8" headtube without using a headset press. Therefore you're assuming it doesn't fit. For a six-pack from your local micro-brewery, am I correct????

Originally posted by TotalKos
The fork is a Judy that is 1 1/8". The headset is 1 1/8" and it doesn't fit the headtube.

does the headset fit into those adapters you posted in the picture? do those adapters fit into the head tube?

when you say the headset doesnt fit the headtube, do you mean the headset is too small, or do you mean it's too big. if the headset is too small for the headtube, then the headtube takes a 1 1/4" headset. if this is the case then you can get headset reducers. if the headset is too big for the headtube, then you probably got a 1" headtube and i think you'd either need to swap steerer/crowns or get a new fork altogether.

DING...DING...DING... ROUND 11....

Mr. TotalKos.. Your ATX 890 has a 1 1/8" or 1 1/4" headtube??

OK I am almost positive that the headtube is 1 1/4'. The only other possibility is 1.5" but apparently that is rare. My 1 1/8" headset would fall in the headtube if I let go. The headset does fit (not by hand) with help from those adapters in my picture. So I'm pretty sure that I can use the adapter I have or the reducers you guys have told me about to fit my 1 1/8" headset into the 1 1/4" headtube.

A new question is how much does the tool cost to seat the headset in the headtube? Are there alternative way of seating the headset? Thanks already for the help.

DING...DING...DING.... ROUND 12...

OK.....You can install your 1 1/8" headset on your 1 1/4" headtube by using headset reducers that Kev suggested earlier. You would need a headset press to install top and bottom cups onto the headtube. I'd suggest you have your LBS do that for you. The tool is not cheap but you can easily make one like I did using a long 3/4" thick bolt, several thick washers, and a nut to press the cups onto the headtube. But don't attempt to install this yourself with a homemade tool unless you know exactly what you're doing!! Let your LBS handle that part....

DING...DING....DING..... THE REF HAS CALLED THE FIGHT.

"Put this one to bed folks!"

Thanks

FWIW, I still think the headtube is 1-1/8". What year is the bike? Every specification for the Giant ATX 890 lists it as having a 1-1/8" headset as stock. I wouldn't think that Giant would ship the bike stock with a headset reducer so I would assume that the headtube was also 1-1/8".

Originally posted by khuon
FWIW, I still think the headtube is 1-1/8". What year is the bike? Every specification for the Giant ATX 890 lists it as having a 1-1/8" headset as stock. I wouldn't think that Giant would ship the bike stock with a headset reducer so I would assume that the headtube was also 1-1/8".
But one reviewer on MTB Reviews mentioned or complained to the fact that the headtube on this frame was "slightly larger than 1 1/8 inch" or something to that effect....

Originally posted by George
But one reviewer on MTB Reviews mentioned or complained to the fact that the headtube on this frame was "slightly larger than 1 1/8 inch" or something to that effect....

That's truly odd. What was Giant thinking?

Hmmm... it seems that there's some mention of the ATX 890 using integrated headsets. That might explain a few things. I personally would not attempt to use a standard threadless headset in a frame designed for an integrated headset. I do however believe there are appropriate adapters (reducer that is also a cup to fit inside the integrated headset space) made to do just that. From the pictures of your headset adapter, I'm not sure those are the appropriate adapters.

Check out this link (http://www.betd.co.uk/cgi-bin/sh000001.pl?REFPAGE=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2ebetd%2eco%2euk%2facatalog%2fsearch%2ehtml&WD=headset&PREVQUERY=RANDOM%3dNETQUOTEVAR%253ARANDOM%26PAGE%3dSEARCH%26SS%3dheadset%26TB%3dA%26PR%3d%2d1&PN=BETD_SHOP_Giant_Suspension_Upgrades_7%2ehtml%23a29#a29).

Unless you're really in love with the headset, I think it'd be better (and possibly cheaper) to just buy an integrated headset.

Originally posted by khuon
Hmmm... it seems that there's some mention of the ATX 890 using integrated headsets. That might explain a few things. I personally would not attempt to use a standard threadless headset in a frame designed for an integrated headset. I do however believe there are appropriate adapters (reducer that is also a cup to fit inside the integrated headset space) made to do just that. From the pictures of your headset adapter, I'm not sure those are the appropriate adapters.

Check out this link (http://www.betd.co.uk/cgi-bin/sh000001.pl?REFPAGE=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2ebetd%2eco%2euk%2facatalog%2fsearch%2ehtml&WD=headset&PREVQUERY=RANDOM%3dNETQUOTEVAR%253ARANDOM%26PAGE%3dSEARCH%26SS%3dheadset%26TB%3dA%26PR%3d%2d1&PN=BETD_SHOP_Giant_Suspension_Upgrades_7%2ehtml%23a29#a29).

Unless you're really in love with the headset, I think it'd be better (and possibly cheaper) to just buy an integrated headset.
Ahh.....now that makes total sense.

Dumb question. What's the difference between an integrated and a non? From what I've gathered so far the performance depends on quality of the frame and that there are no cups. What else? Does this mean I've got a crappy frame because of the integrated or will I even notice a difference if I install an integrated. Would I still be able to use the reducers to use a standard headset?

Originally posted by TotalKos
Dumb question. What's the difference between an integrated and a non? From what I've gathered so far the performance depends on quality of the frame and that there are no cups. What else? Does this mean I've got a crappy frame because of the integrated or will I even notice a difference if I install an integrated. Would I still be able to use the reducers to use a standard headset?

IMHO, I've always felt IS headsets were kinda dumb and really only invented for looks. A normal headset is more tolerant of imperfections in the headtube. Additionally, if you don't maintain proper preload with a normal threadless headset, you may end up ruining the headset and probably the steerer tube which is bad enough. However, with an IS headset, you'd also screw up the headtube and thus the frame. Like I said, you can use reducers (technically it's an adapter because it doesn't really reduce anything) but you need to use specific kinds made for an integrated headset headtube. That said, I'm not sure I'd do it. You're not really buying yourself anything in terms of getting around the problems with IS headsets and just adding more complexity, weight and potential for more things to go wrong by not matching up properly. Remember that if you use an adapter, your actualy headset will not get pressed into the frame either and you'll still have basically an IS headset but one that uses a traditional threadless headset as its core. The interface to the headtube is still essentially an IS based one.

DING...DING...DING... NEW MATCH... ROUND 1....

Mr. TotalKos,
I understand you already have an 1 1/8" headset. What happened to the integrated headset that originally came with the frame or did it not?

The frame that is in question is not really an integrated headset frame. It is intended for use with the Cane Creek Zero Stack headset if my memory serves me correctly. The FSA that fits in current Giant frames will also work. The headtube is oversized but it still uses cups that press into the frame. They ship those silver round "reducers" with the frames for those that wish to use another headset but as my Giant rep once told me, and I quote "I wouldn't use those on my bike" so it is up to you where you go from here. I personally would go get the proper headset for the bike, it sounds to me like you are still short the black cups that press into the frame to hold your silver "reducers" anyway. Hopefully this will end all discussion. TKO.

-Ryan

I bought it new. There wasen't a headset on it.

I'd take the whole thing down to the shop and have them take a look at it for you.

Or take Bikeryans advice.