Hi guys,

Chris here from So.Cal. .. new forum member. So I have a first generation Colnago Master with a Campagnolo Super Record grouppo from around 1984, and I’m needing headset and bottom bracket bearings. I see Campy NOS headset bearings pop up on auction sites that say Record .. will those fit? And how would I go about determining the bottom bracket bearings I need .. I see a couple different sizes pop up. Thanks!

You don't need caged bearings. I believe the headset takes a number of 3/16" balls and the bottom bracket takes eleven 1/4" balls on each side. If you can get them grade 25 bearings are the better quality ones.

Most headsets take 25 5/32" balls top and bottom but the nuovo and super record headsets went with 20 3/16" balls top and bottom.

I think Campy used the same size as the 70's.
I recommend loose ball bearings, rather than their retainer-type.
Most good bike shops will carry good quality ones in this size.

I had the headset apart last week and the bearings are caged. I haven’t had the bottom bracket apart since 1985 and can’t remember for sure .. I thought they might be individual balls .. but then looking on eBay I see Super Record caged bottom bracket bearings that say NOS .. so I’m confused. Is there a website I’m overlooking that goes over all the old Campy stuff by chance? Thanks!

Maybe these help, google around with "super record campagnolo 1984 headset diagram" or some such-

Campagnolo Components (80s - early 90s) --Bottom Bracket, Crankset, Pedals

https://cycling-obsession.com/vintag...eadset-review/

Caged bearings make assembly easier but aren't required for these particular components.

The Campagnolo headset bearing cages are designed to maximize the number of balls in each race. There’s no advantage to leaving them out.

This is not true of most other brands of headsets which have cages that leave a lot of space unused. Hidden cost cutting at its finest.

I agree: cage bearings offer ease of assembly, thus reduced labor costs, to the manufacturer but offer no advantage to the user. I use grade 25 loose balls in my bikes because they work very well and I have the time to avoid cutting corners. You will see this from time to time - a manufacturer finds a way to save material or labor costs then has the “marketing” guys write it up so it sounds like a performance advantage to the buyer and justifies the price increase. Double win.

I would not pay for NOS caged bearings. Better quality loose bearing balls are readily available and inexpensive. AND I’ve had very few people, over the years, ask me to take my Campy headset apart so they can check if I have original bearings.

My father used to say that you could always tell the weakest feature of a product as that was the feature most promoted in the advertisements. Some wisdom there. Actually, he may have heard that from his father.

Most, but not all, bikes sold with Super Record parts used Nuovo Record bottom brackets, which take 11 1/4" balls in each race. If your bike has an actual Super Record bottom bracket (titanium axle), it will take 14 3/16" balls in each race. Super Record bottom bracket axles and cups are not interchangeable with Record or Nuovo Record bottom bracket axles and cups.

+1 this. As are Campagnolo bottom bracket ball retainers, which hold a full 11-ball complement (14 balls, for actual Super Record/C-Record retainers). If the balls are worn, you can press them out of the retainer and press in fresh balls.

Welcome to bikeforums [MENTION=552546]cloudswimmer[/MENTION]
We're going to need see pics of that Colnago, please stick around.
Regarding bearings, I'm pretty sure Campagnolo never made any bearings of their own ever. They just source them from the same ball mills of the world we all have access to in grade 25. If I'm wrong about this I will be corrected. I've never had trouble installing loose balls in any bike component.

SKF was the supplier.

"full super record"

super record had titanium bottom bracket spindle and pedal shafts. Might have, but most likely these parts are steel. Magnet test for an full answer.

I would as J Thompson wrote- just gently push the old bearings out. Or, just clean and inspect.
if the headset shows false brinelling (dents in races) go to loose bearings and add at least one compared to caged units.

on the bottom bracket, if it has not been apart for 25-30 years.... hopefully the spindle is not trashed. Take it apart and inspect fully- spindle dies before the cups.

Thanks John and everyone else who participated in this thread to help out, I’m all up to speed now on Campy bearings thanks to you guys. 👍

John,
Thanks for posting! I have been replacing balls in retainers for 40 years and have yet to see a failure. It is simply a way to get back to new with a bit of effort on the part of the mechanic. You are making a lot of sense in this discussion. Smiles, MH

Here is some info from 1982 campy components catalogue hope it helps .

Despite what Narhay says in post #2, I would trust Sutherland's on the headset info:


The way to tell a "Super Record" headset from a "Record" is that the SR has aluminum upper screwed race and lower pressed race (with steel inserts for bearing races) and locknut. Record has chromed steel. Bearing size (which should be figured out and correct) aside, when filling headset races, I always add balls carefully pushing them into reasonable position, until I get to the point where no more will fit. Then I remove one. Better one too few than one too many. With 5/32" balls, I find the resulting number is usually 25 for most vintage headsets.

Bearings for BB are as John D Thompson says above in post #10, and the BB is only SR if it has a titanium spindle.

Try to find a Sutherland's Manual, either electronic or actual, online somewhere. It's an invaluable resource. I use the 6th edition in preference to the 4th.