peugeot.ash

I have a 1983 raleigh rapide that I use as my everyday commuter. The headset is original and is due for a replacement/upgrade. It is a 1" threaded steerer. Have done some research (ie read sheldon's page) and cannot decipher whether I should get a standard ISO threading or the special Raleigh threading? Will it even make a difference?

JohnDThompson 

If the steer tubes uses Raleigh's proprietary 1" x 26tpi thread, ISO threaded parts won't fit. But the lower stack (crown race and lower pressed cup) aren't threaded and have standard dimensions. These are the parts that suffer the most wear, so you could replace them with standard headset parts and keep the upper stack and it's 26tpi threading to make it all work.

peugeot.ash

Thanks that's a good plan if it is 26tpi. How can I tell if it is standard ISO or 26tpi steerer?

JohnDThompson 

You can use a thread gauge, or simply try to thread a known ISO (24tpi) cup or locknut onto the steer tube. If it can thread on without a struggle, your steer tube is ISO thread. If not, it's likely 26tpi thread.

Andrew R Stewart 

I strongly believe that the Rapide is 24TPI. It was one of the early Asian made Raleighs and all those bike I've dealt with are Asian standard (JIS not English/Witworth). Andy.

peugeot.ash

No it's definitely a Nottingham made frame. It's not a world beater, but it's not a beater either. It has 531 main triangle with high ten rear and forks.

Bike tinker man

If you do try another locknut as there is very little difference between the threads be very careful, do not in any way try to force it or use any spanners etc. I think these early Raleigh locknuts had a unique shape think it's mentioned & shown on Sheldon 's retro Raleigh write up

HillRider

Hadn't Raleigh converted to "English" threading throughout by 1983?

Andrew R Stewart 

I am confused by your model descriptions. The Rapide I know and sold for a few years was an Asian made bike. Hi Ten tubes with basic SunTour gearing. The Raleigh with 531 main tubes, hi ten rear stays was most commonly the Super Course. I never knew of an English made bike using the Rapide name.

So educate me please. Can you post photos of the bike? The head badge, the "made in" decal, the headset, the stay end treatments? Andy.

steelbikeguy

Interesting topic! I'm a fan of Raleigh, having owned a '74 Gran Sport that I bought new and rode for 14 years. During that time, I did end up replacing the lower cup and cone, primarily because the stack height of the replacement headset wouldn't fit the bike. It seemed like a bit of a hack, although it was functional.

What options exist for someone who needs to replace the upper race? This is one of the things that has kept me away from this (and earlier) era(s) of Raleighs.

On the other hand, I do own a nice '74 International and a '82 Raleigh Team, but liked the standardized threading and dimensions that come with the Campy parts.

Steve in Peoria

Andrew R Stewart 

Steve- Have you confirmed that the steerer on your Gran Sport is 26TPI or 24TPI? During this era of Raleigh production there was some interchanging of the steerer spec among the mid grade bikes with little consistency. I have seen the "Raleigh" headset (the design with the balls having almost axial to the steerer contact angles) in, the less common but still made, 24TPI. The replacement of the lower stack has been done by many to solve the "Raleigh" head set tendency to bind and be loose at the same time. (BTW these headsets were VERY sensitive to the number of balls in both races. The lower tacking one more ball then the top and both having slightly more then one ball gap). Andy.

steelbikeguy

hi Andy,.. the Gran Sport is long gone... although its spirit lives on as being the basis for the geometry for the two custom frames I've had built. Lovely bike, though...



Raleigh did seem to have a knack for selecting attractive color schemes.

back to the headset... I don't recall any issues with the number of bearings in the headset, and I would repack bearings annually. The headset was a pretty basic model; functional but nothing more. I was happy when I upgraded the lower parts with a better quality model... a Gipiemme, I think.

I really do appreciate standardized sizes, threads, etc., which is probably why I have a number of bikes that are all equipped with Campy Nuovo Record parts or equivalents. No worries about finding replacement parts or compatible threads.
I'm having an issue with a modern bike with a FSA headset with cartridge bearings. After having a hard time finding a replacement cartridge, now I'm having trouble getting the play out of the adjustment without binding. Life is so much easier with the old cup & cone and loose bearing types. The change from loose to perfect to tight is fairly distinct and easy to find.

thanks,
Steve in Peoria

dr_lha

The 1983 Raleigh Rapide had a 531 front triangle, as evidenced by this catalog image below.

Could the confusion here be between Raleigh UK (the Rapide below is a UK bike) and USA?

JohnDThompson 

Mostly likely you'll need to scour the used market. Fortunately, upper races seldom wear out, even when neglected for years. Headset loads are mostly thrust loads, which load the lower stack while unloading the upper stack, so there's very little wear on the upper races. The purpose of the upper race is to hold things in alignment, not to carry load.

steelbikeguy

thanks John!

No plans to shop for another Raleigh right now, but you never know what you might stumble across.
It has crossed my mind that a Gran Sport would make a nice fixed gear bike.

Steve in Peoria

Andrew R Stewart 

This explains a lot. Thanks. Although the OP neglected to include his location (one of my pet peeves along with use of "handles" instead of actual names) I still would have not known the England home market specs or model names. Andy.

peugeot.ash

Sorry forgot to say the bike was made for the UK market. I've always found it strange that bikes that had the same name were made from different materials and components in different countries. Was the UK made rapide sold in the US as well?

peugeot.ash

Lovely bike, mines nowhere near as nice but works pretty well as a workhorse. The main issue I'm having with my headset is that it comes loose no matter how tight i do the locknut. I have added a spacer but it keeps slipping. The headset itself seems have improved a lot since I repacked the bearings so hopefully can manage without replace it.

JohnDThompson 

Damaged threads, perhaps? Riding with a loose headset can damage the threads on the steer tube and make it impossible to hold adjustment.

Andrew R Stewart 

The Raleigh Rapide sold in the US was an Asian produced bike at the lower/lowest level of the LBD scale. Hi ten frame, steel rims, steel cranks, ders, bars, post. 27x 1 1/4" gum wall tires with SVs. Stem shift levers with extension brake levers. Vinyl padded seat. In 1980 (or so) it likely sold for about $175. It was part of the first wave of Asian made Raleigh branded bikes. The year before the Asian made Raleigh distributed bikes were called Rampar to protect the Raleigh name (or to work around licensing agreements). We found these early Asian "Raleighs" to be less nice to ride but easier to assemble and of more consistent quality control. Andy.