Loose Balls?
04-27-17, 11:02 AM
#26
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@FBinNY, you couldn't tell, but I was having fun with that term. It's funny that the thing we call ball bearings are actually bearing balls.
And why do we say tug of war when it's actually a war of tug?
And why do we say tug of war when it's actually a war of tug?
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04-27-17, 11:05 AM
#27
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04-27-17, 11:52 AM
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About the only other possibilities I can think of would be that the balls were flawed, or that the top and bottom surfaces of the head tube aren't quite parallel.
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04-27-17, 01:36 PM
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On quality headsets/BBs I use the supplied cages when assembling for the first time, then when overhauling them use loose balls. On standard/low quality, loose balls from the start.
04-27-17, 01:57 PM
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Do you have any tips for installing the headset with loose balls? I recently tried to do that, but could not get the headset properly adjusted. I followed Sheldon Brown's suggestion of turning the frame upside down, used the correct size balls, and tried several different counts of balls in the races...but every time the headset would bind after a few turns of the bars, it seemed the balls kept running into each other in the races. So I gave up and used the caged balls in that headset and it has worked just fine ever since.
Ben
04-27-17, 02:12 PM
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Yes, I knew you were kidding, and hinted at it with the reference to basketballs.
I know you like to point out ironic nomenclature, but your wrong in this case. What we (correctly) call ball bearings are just that - bearings that use balls, as opposed to bushings or rollers.
English is a fluid language, and evolves in ways that sometimes lead to odd words or phrases. I agree that tug of war is sort of backward, but I see it as an evolution of tug war, becoming tug o' war because it seems more fluid when spoken. (I don't think I've ever heard anyone pronounce the F in of)
I know you like to point out ironic nomenclature, but your wrong in this case. What we (correctly) call ball bearings are just that - bearings that use balls, as opposed to bushings or rollers.
English is a fluid language, and evolves in ways that sometimes lead to odd words or phrases. I agree that tug of war is sort of backward, but I see it as an evolution of tug war, becoming tug o' war because it seems more fluid when spoken. (I don't think I've ever heard anyone pronounce the F in of)
Ben
04-27-17, 03:55 PM
#35
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Yes those are the ones I bought. But the quality looks questionable...
@kcblair thanks for the Boca Fla link. These look like much better quality. I just wish they would list the Manufacturer.
When it comes to stuff like this I try to avoid Chinese products.
@kcblair thanks for the Boca Fla link. These look like much better quality. I just wish they would list the Manufacturer.
When it comes to stuff like this I try to avoid Chinese products.
04-27-17, 04:27 PM
#36
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@noglider & @FBinNY - I just didn't want to say "loose balls" so early in the morning. It made me laugh, as I wasn't thinking of ball bearings. So as not to try to be funny, I referred to them as "bearings". I knew that the balls are called balls or ball bearings (to specify that the balls are used with bearings).
For the bb, after all is clean I use a grease gun to put a thick rim of grease around the inside of the fixed cup (approaching from the NDS), I usually put the balls in from the hole on the fixed cup - I have small enough fingers. Grease holds it in place. Then fill the fixed cup with grease, balls and .....screw it in and adjust. Easy peasy.
For the bb, after all is clean I use a grease gun to put a thick rim of grease around the inside of the fixed cup (approaching from the NDS), I usually put the balls in from the hole on the fixed cup - I have small enough fingers. Grease holds it in place. Then fill the fixed cup with grease, balls and .....screw it in and adjust. Easy peasy.
04-27-17, 04:31 PM
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I prefer loose bearings for most stuff the Campy or Tange full count raced bearings that came in there high end stuff is nice for BB's and headsets but getting pretty hard to find at reasonable prices. As for sourcing you can buy lots of 500 or 1000 assorted grade 25 bearings off Amazon 10 shipped which will give you enough bearings to do everything on a couple of bikes.
https://www.amazon.com/1000-Piece-As...ngs+1%2F4+inch
https://www.amazon.com/1000-Piece-As...ngs+1%2F4+inch
04-27-17, 04:45 PM
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@noglider & @FBinNY - I just didn't want to say "loose balls" so early in the morning. It made me laugh, as I wasn't thinking of ball bearings. So as not to try to be funny, I referred to them as "bearings". I knew that the balls are called balls or ball bearings (to specify that the balls are used with bearings)......
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Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
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04-27-17, 05:09 PM
#39
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I'd be looking for a bit of support, personally.....
04-27-17, 05:30 PM
#40
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...Y'mean, after you've salvaged the balls for re-use? 
That's a good ploy. I did that as a stop-gap on a cheap headset that had developed false brinnelling, until I had a chance to upgrade to a better headset (that I assembled also with loose balls).
That's a good ploy. I did that as a stop-gap on a cheap headset that had developed false brinnelling, until I had a chance to upgrade to a better headset (that I assembled also with loose balls).
04-28-17, 05:50 AM
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I try to buy gen-u-ine SKF balls whenever I can. I have a pretty good stash of most sizes applicable to my bikes, but I understand that they are getting a bit hard to source. I would avoid Chinese made balls at all cost. I have encountered a few cases of balls disintegrating and causing a real mess, destroying the races of the component in question. In each of these cases, the common denominator was balls of Chinese manufacture.
04-28-17, 05:56 AM
#43
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Hey!
We were hoping that a thread posted in C&V with the word balls in the title could actually not lead to reported posts. Guess we were wrong.
Please stop with the videos and the over the line double entendre posts or the thread will need to be closed.
We were hoping that a thread posted in C&V with the word balls in the title could actually not lead to reported posts. Guess we were wrong.
Please stop with the videos and the over the line double entendre posts or the thread will need to be closed.
04-28-17, 06:09 AM
#44
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.Go ahead and close the thread if you feel it necessary. And thanks to all who made a "productive" comment.
04-28-17, 06:28 AM
#45
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Thread closed.
