Bicycle Mechanics - Headset race too 'thin' Schwinn World Voyager 1974

Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.



PDA
etherhuffer
10-26-10, 10:15 PM
The crown race and top race are pitted and grooved on this old thing, but the cups look good. The amount of hard chrome on this old headset is pretty amazing.

So I got a couple of races and banged em home. Problem is the crown race. It fits the fork fine(27.0) but its not as tall(thick) as the original. Calipers say 10mm. The replacement one is thinner, and the fork crown hits the bottom of the cup. The cup is similar to a Tange Levin, with the roundish shape.

Any ideas on keeping the original cups and finding a better race? Gads, these old bikes.........

DannoXYZ
10-26-10, 10:55 PM
Doubt you're gonna find a 10mm crown race. Most I've seen are 4-5mm thick. The other issue is having the curvature matched properly so the balls will roll in the centre rather than off one edge.

Personally I would just replace the entire headset. They seem to last forever with proper service and adjustment. I've got a 105 headset that's 25-years old on its 4rd bike now. And my favourite, a Stronglight alloy & needle-bearing headset that's 20-years old on its 3rd bike.
Booger1
10-27-10, 10:20 AM
You could try a 5mm shim under the race.

etherhuffer
10-27-10, 11:24 AM
You could try a 5mm shim under the race.

Good idea. Any thoughts on where to find such a spacer?
Booger1
10-27-10, 01:05 PM
Seems that all of the newer ones are about 5mm thick or so,maybe start with one of those and do a little grinding on a bench grinder if need be or flip it upsidedown and use 2 of them.Go to your local LBS and look for some headset spacers that will work.

It's easy for me,I'd just make one,I'm a machinist.It doesn't have to be steel,you can use aluminum for a shim,much easier to work with at home.
DannoXYZ
10-27-10, 01:20 PM
You could try a 5mm shim under the race.Will the shim be thinner than the height of the seat on the crown? You'd need to make a stepped shim that will touch the race underneath and on the inside. Due to the thinness of the material at the step, you'd want to use something stronger like steel or beryllium.