Caged Headset bearings
03-03-14 | 04:00 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 570
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From: Columbia county, NY
Caged Headset bearings
Can you guys give me the right headset bearing size ( caged) for replacement, I got a 1 inch steerer tube, need the upper and lower , Its for an older Peugeot. I am not good at US sizing. Thanks.
03-03-14 | 04:27 PM
#2
Still learning
Joined: May 2012
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From: North of Canada, Adirondacks
Bikes: Still a garage full
The last time I did a loose ball replacement, the bearings must have been 5/32 because they were smaller than front wheel bearings. As little as they cost, just either order loose or caged bearings, both 5/32 and 3/16 and figure it out from there. Or go to the troybikerescue.org. I've dropped parts off there and they seem like a helpful bunch.
03-04-14 | 11:16 PM
#3
Ride, Wrench, Swap, Race
Joined: Jan 2010
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From: Northern California
Bikes: Cheltenham-Pedersen racer, Boulder F/S Paris-Roubaix, Varsity racer, '52 Christophe, '62 Continental, '92 Merckx, '75 Limongi, '76 Presto, '72 Gitane SC, '71 Schwinn SS, etc.
Should be 5/32" as oddjob2 alluded.
Take care not to damage the original cages when replacing the balls, or dispense with the cages and just fill the races with loose balls, full-complement, using extra-heavy grease to retain the balls and to prevent the grease from falling out while riding.
Be sure that the headset isn't the slightest bit too tight, which puts heavy pinching loads into the bearings (which can dent the races) when the steer tube inevitably flexes over bumps in the road.
Bearing cages for 1" headsets are made in slightly different sizes for different headsets, so you definitely don't want to have to go searching for the right ones.
Take care not to damage the original cages when replacing the balls, or dispense with the cages and just fill the races with loose balls, full-complement, using extra-heavy grease to retain the balls and to prevent the grease from falling out while riding.
Be sure that the headset isn't the slightest bit too tight, which puts heavy pinching loads into the bearings (which can dent the races) when the steer tube inevitably flexes over bumps in the road.
Bearing cages for 1" headsets are made in slightly different sizes for different headsets, so you definitely don't want to have to go searching for the right ones.
03-05-14 | 07:38 AM
#4
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 16,748
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From: Wherever
I would go loose balls. More trouble than caged sets, but you can add one more ball, usually, sometimes two, which helps spread the load more evenly, I think. Fill race with grease, fill with balls until no more fit, then remove one.
03-05-14 | 07:55 AM
#5
What??? Only 2 wheels?
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 13,501
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From: Boston-ish, MA
Bikes: 72 Peugeot UO-8, 82 Peugeot TH8, 87 Bianchi Brava, 76? Masi Grand Criterium, 74 Motobecane Champion Team, 86 & 77 Gazelle champion mondial, 81? Grandis, 82? Tommasini, 83 Peugeot PF10
Unless they are covered with grease they scatter like bugs and hide under the furniture. (A mechanic's magnet is your friend.)As RB said, the usual rule of thumb is to fill the space then remove one. It may seem like one is missing but that gives them space to move.
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Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
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03-05-14 | 08:18 AM
#6
Abuse Magnet
Joined: Jun 2012
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From: Colorado
Bikes: '91 Mtn Tek Vertical, '74 Raleigh Sports, '72 Raleigh Twenty, '84 Univega Gran Turismo, '09 Surly Karate Monkey, '92 Burley Rock-n-Roll, '86 Miyata 310, '76 Raleigh Shopper
Caged bearings are more convenient, but loose ball bearings aren't that hard to deal with, and as everyone else has said, you can get more balls in there. Magnets are your friends...get one of those cheap magnetic parts trays from Harbor Freight, makes the loose balls a lot easier to manage.
