Old 08-09-14 | 05:38 PM
  #8  
FBinNY
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Joined: Apr 2009
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From: New Rochelle, NY

Bikes: too many bikes from 1967 10s (5x2)Frejus to a Sumitomo Ti/Chorus aluminum 10s (10x2), plus one non-susp mtn bike I use as my commuter

You can easily check the headset by (working upside down) removing the stem and spacers, then gently lifting the fork to check the complement of balls in each bearing. Use a small screwdriver or icepick to gently move the balls around and get a sense of how many are missing by the gaps. If it's truly only short one or two, ignore that and ride. Buy a pack of balls, and schedule the headset overhaul for when it's convenient --- there no rush. OTOH if you're missing a few (gap of 3/4" or so) you should do the overhaul sooner rather than later.

Very rough guideline is that you can have a gap, of up to 50° of arc with little or no loss of function.
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