Bike Forums - Headset thoughts, anyone?

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Quote:

Originally Posted by jimmuller (Post 13645949)

If you had to acquire and install a headset on a high-end vintage bike what would you consider acceptable? One can buy a new, seemingly very good headset from Harris or VO for under $50. Vintage Campy sets on ebay are going for two to three times that. Let us put aside for now any question of restoration; for now I'm interested in performance, not appearance.

VO has a model with needle bearings, seems like a good idea. They also have a model with a split fork crown race to make it easier to install. I can see how the bearing pressure would force the split joint closed, but I do wonder how that joint would survive long-term use.

Any thoughts or experiences?

TIA,
Jim

First thoughts are that there are mechanical considerations that trump style. Your bike has requirements: crown race ID, thread (French, Italian, or BSA), and stack height (your fork might be too short for a new headset that you buy, even though it was just fine with the old one). If you're actually building a bike to ride, these precede style points.

That said, I like modern and vintage Campagnolo, Tange M-60 and some kinds of Levin, and Stronglight A9 with needle bearings. But you can't make one work that has the wrong dimensions. Nor can you make one work if the head tube and crown race seat are not in shape.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimmuller (Post 13645949)

VO has a model with needle bearings, seems like a good idea. They also have a model with a split fork crown race to make it easier to install. I can see how the bearing pressure would force the split joint closed, but I do wonder how that joint would survive long-term use.

Any thoughts or experiences?

TIA,
Jim

Bearing pressure does not force the split crown race closed. The steel cartridge bearing used in that headset does not need to be supported that well. I have one on my Raleigh and I like it very much. I'd buy another since the needle bearing Stronglight A-9 is no longer available. I have no experience with a VO needle bearing headset. Both cartridge and needle bearing headsets normally need a lot of stack height. I've used Tange when a short stack height is required.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grand Bois (Post 13647568)

The steel cartridge bearing used in that headset does not need to be supported that well. I have one on my Raleigh and I like it very much... Both cartridge and needle bearing headsets normally need a lot of stack height.

Thanks. Does that imply a different distance between head tube and crown?? That would change how the bike stands.

Which brings me to the next question. How does one determine what stack height will be needed? I do not have the original. Most likely it would have been a Campy NR. I can see starting with a smaller height and adding washers if required, seein' as how they seem to be available. If I start with one spec'ed too large that may mean removing a washer, but perhaps there are none to remove so that headset won't do at all.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Road Fan (Post 13647496)

I'm surprised that the headset in question is only available in one crown sizing. Used to be you'd specify thread and crown race diameter.

How do we know about the various Tange cup designs?

I thought that would be the case too, but I went to the Tange website and pulled down their catalog and it shows all the 1" threaded headsets with 26.4 crown sizing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by thinktubes (Post 13646959)

I've used an A9 for over 15 years on my Battaglin and it has worked great!!!

Based on my experience with the A9, I'm going to try a Stronglight delta on the Ciocc I'm building up. I really like the styling:

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gYAq4xy3cY...ight-delta.jpg

I put a Delta on my tandem over 25 years ago and it's still going strong.

The only difference between the Delta and the A9 is that the Delta has O-ring seals on the cups and locknut.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Road Fan (Post 13647502)

I haven't seen these for quite a while - where have you seen them for sale? is there an issue with recent ones made with ball bearings rather than needle?

Personal stash :) Just installed it last night. Very light-weight as well.

I think Ben's has replacement needle bearing/race sets.

Stronglight stopped making the needle bearing A-9 some time ago. They now have cartridge bearings. There is also a heavy A-9ST with ball bearings.