Classic & Vintage - i have a problem with schwinn suburban headset

so im trying to get the headset on this schwinn suburban. the problem is every time i turn this nut it is to tight to turn the whole fork.

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h176/biosensor/IMG_0210.jpg

so i loosen it just till it is just snug then i install the shifters and then top nut. and when i tighten the top nut it it still binding, i know i greased up the bearings enough and i know they are sitting correctly. as the are the only way that they will fit. also when i go to pull off the top nut it is super loose after turning the fork some, when i pull the shifter off the nut below is loose... it doesnt seem to be holding for whatever reason.

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h176/biosensor/IMG_0217.jpg



here is the orientation of the bearings. i know the pics dont look like there is alot of grease i wiped some off to show you how they sit. what am i doing wrong...
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h176/biosensor/IMG_0203.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h176/biosensor/IMG_0208.jpg

Try to keep the top bearing race just a bit looser, that way when you tighten it down it won't bind up. Those headsets are a bit of a pain since the bearing race does not have wrench flats.

Does it have front brakes?

After the headset then a cable hanger,shifters then nut.

Does it have front brakes?

After the headset then a cable hanger,shifters then nut.

+1 Sure looks like you are missing a washer/spacer on that set up. My Suburban already moved onto another home, or I would take a look.

But there was not a cable holder on my Suburban, I just checked some of the pics I kept. As I recall, there was a spacer/washer below the shifter bracket.

Aren't the top bearings in upside down?

There is supposed to be a washer with a small protrusion to fit into the fork tube. Then put the nut on and see if that doesn't solve the problem

As I recall, there was a spacer/washer below the shifter bracket.

Sorry,I was in a hurry.

The knurled "nut" is upside down! I believe the concave section should be facing down and into the bearing. It's actually a bearing race. Tighten till snug put on the shifter bracket then top nut and tighten. I think?

thanx for the help guys... also i don't think there is another spacer. i was thinking the same thing. and i looked through the parts bag i separated it into and saw nothing.
i also was able to dig up a pic i thought i trashed of the headset... doesn't look like any spacer is there. i know the shifter has the groove that the spacer would have... i figured it took the place of the spacer.


are the bearings in the right way, i always forget the way they sit...

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h176/biosensor/front.jpg
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h176/biosensor/shifter.jpg

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kidmissile/321588868/in/set-72157594397611918/

Aren't the top bearings in upside down?

I second that. Top bearing looks upside down.

Outside bearings go into cup; Inside bearings go into race. Looks like there's a race where the cup normally is.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kidmissile/321588868/in/set-72157594397611918/

The headset in the picture is different than the OP's suburban. On the OP's bike, the upper race is installed into the frame and the cup screws over the top. The photo linked is the opposite, where the upper cup is installed into the frame and the race screws over the top.

Aren't the top bearings in upside down?


We have a winner!,,,,,BD

The headset in the picture is different than the OP's suburban. On the OP's bike, the upper race is installed into the frame and the cup screws over the top. The photo linked is the opposite, where the upper cup is installed into the frame and the race screws over the top.

+1 The top bearing would be upside down if you had a traditional/original headset. But this replacement headset is quite a bit different. I haven't seen one like that before.

+1 The top bearing would be upside down if you had a traditional/original headset. But this replacement headset is quite a bit different. I haven't seen one like that before.

I have run across headsets like that on 2 Schwinn Suburbans, my Lotus and a 80's World Sport. It's a little bit goofy.

thanx, i flipped the top cage around and it worked perfectly...
thanx all for the help!
like i said i always forget the orientation of those cages...

now all i got to do is put the rest together!

thanx, i flipped the top cage around and it worked perfectly...
thanx all for the help!
like i said i always forget the orientation of those cages...

now all i got to do is put the rest together!

mainly, think about where the bearings come into contact with metal. if u put the cup on top of the bearings the way you had it, it would be metal on metal, instead of bearings on metal.