Trek 610 - Replace the headset
11-14-11, 08:38 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Roswell
Posts: 195
Bikes: Trek 610, Cannondale Bad Boy
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Trek 610 - Replace the headset
I have a 1984 Trek 610 that I've had since new. Other than the wheels and the saddle, it's all original and in very good shape. While the headset feels fine, it's one of those Stronglight ones that has some plastic in it. I'm wondering if I should replace it as a matter of age, as it's approaching its 28th birthday. I should add that I'm neither particularly strong or heavy and don't wear bikes out very quickly.
11-14-11, 08:44 PM
#3
Bianchi Goddess
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Shady Pines Retirement Fort Wayne, In
Posts: 27,858
Bikes: Too many to list here check my signature.
Mentioned: 192 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2930 Post(s)
Liked 2,923 Times
in
1,491 Posts
+1 when was it last overhauled? I would have it overhauled and inspect the parts. odds are pretty good you'll get a few more good years from it
__________________
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
11-15-11, 09:41 AM
#4
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Roswell
Posts: 195
Bikes: Trek 610, Cannondale Bad Boy
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
11-15-11, 11:47 AM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 11,128
Bikes: 1986 Alan Record Carbonio, 1985 Vitus Plus Carbone 7, 1984 Peugeot PSV, 1972 Line Seeker, 1986(est.) Medici Aerodynamic (Project), 1985(est.) Peugeot PY10FC
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 150 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 34 Times
in
27 Posts
You must have the "B. Hinault" version of the Stronglight A9 headset with Delrin cups....which I think might be even lighter than the all aluminum version. As long as the plastic seems to be holding up, it's really the steel bearing race inserts and roller bearings that you need to check for any wear as the cups are not subjected to any. Parts are still availabe to service these and usually cost just a little over 5 bucks.
Chombi
Chombi
11-15-11, 07:17 PM
#8
Old fart
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Appleton WI
Posts: 24,786
Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.
Mentioned: 153 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3588 Post(s)
Liked 3,400 Times
in
1,934 Posts
I did an experiment with one of those Stronglight headsets. I installed it on my commuter bike and rode it for 20 years with no maintenance whatsoever. Then I opened it up to look at the races:
There's just a tiny amount of fretting damage on the lower race, but that's it. I swapped upper and lower races, repacked, and figure I'm good for another 20 years!
There's just a tiny amount of fretting damage on the lower race, but that's it. I swapped upper and lower races, repacked, and figure I'm good for another 20 years!
11-16-11, 08:38 PM
#11
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Roswell
Posts: 195
Bikes: Trek 610, Cannondale Bad Boy
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Here she is:
I replaced the wheels about five years after I bought her, those are a SunTour/Mavic set. Also, that's a Terry Fly saddle instead of the original Avocet Criterium, and since she's my main squeeze, I put a set of Crank Bros. pedals on. I have the original Shimano 600 pedals and the slightly scuffed original saddle. Some day I will probably buy a newer roadie with more gears to tackle some of the steeper hills around here, then I'll put the original pedals back on and ride the 610 on shorter rides. The original saddle is just too stiff to ride on any more, it seems to have hardened in the last 28 years.
I replaced the wheels about five years after I bought her, those are a SunTour/Mavic set. Also, that's a Terry Fly saddle instead of the original Avocet Criterium, and since she's my main squeeze, I put a set of Crank Bros. pedals on. I have the original Shimano 600 pedals and the slightly scuffed original saddle. Some day I will probably buy a newer roadie with more gears to tackle some of the steeper hills around here, then I'll put the original pedals back on and ride the 610 on shorter rides. The original saddle is just too stiff to ride on any more, it seems to have hardened in the last 28 years.
11-16-11, 09:05 PM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 16,877
Bikes: 1980 Masi, 1984 Mondonico, 1984 Trek 610, 1980 Woodrup Giro, 2005 Mondonico Futura Leggera ELOS, 1967 PX10E, 1971 Peugeot UO-8
Mentioned: 49 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1857 Post(s)
Liked 664 Times
in
506 Posts
Don't wash the black plastic parts. I washed mine and they turned permanently grey. Just give them a good wiping with a clean cloth or better, paper towels that are free of grit. But the metal parts all need full degreasing and washing in solvent, with clean, fresh, gooey grease. Another 20 years. It's a great part, and you won't get that kind of durability from any ball-bearing headset. Plus, if you get rid of it you will nearly never see an unused one you can buy. A9's are getting rather hard to get new, and I haven't seen a complete Hinault headset for a long time.
11-16-11, 09:13 PM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 16,877
Bikes: 1980 Masi, 1984 Mondonico, 1984 Trek 610, 1980 Woodrup Giro, 2005 Mondonico Futura Leggera ELOS, 1967 PX10E, 1971 Peugeot UO-8
Mentioned: 49 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1857 Post(s)
Liked 664 Times
in
506 Posts
