That should work OK. I didn't see a listing for the 27mm crown race on their website.

I'd still recommend having the crown and head tube refaced. They're usually off enough to make adjusting difficult. The headset tightens up when the wheels turns one way and it loose the other.

verktyg

Chas.

Chris King makes their bearings in-house. It says so right on their website.

Universal Cycles lists the Tange Levin with a 27.0 crown race: Universal Cycles -- Tange Levin CDS Threaded Headset 1"

As others have said, it'll last as long as a Chris King, it just doesn't have the bling factor of a King. FWIW, Universal Cycles also sells King headsets: Universal Cycles -- Chris King Gripnut Headset - 1 Inch

Chris King may make the bearing races but making ball bearings is way beyond the capacity of his company.

Check out this Youtube video. Stating a 2:00 minutes it shows how the balls are produced...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGyoMuE4gDQ

verktyg

Chas.

i have a new set of Tange Levin (the higher-quality, Campy copy version aforementioned) in box w 27.0 crown race, not in use at least for awhile.
pm if you have a hard time to find it on the web, pls.

Ribble is selling a Campy Record headset for $46.

I looked up the Tange Levin CDS and I see the stack height is 33mm. The one I am replacing is 41+mm.

You can use spacers. I'd probably file down a 10mm, as needed.

Spacers are the easy answer. I wouldn't cut the steerer down- they don't stretch.

1" spacers at Universal Cycles: Universal Cycles -- Alloy Headset Spacers

Well, yeah, I wouldn't expect them to make the balls just like I wouldn't expect them to smelt the ore for the races. My point was that they just don't source a third party sealed bearing as was implied.


Edit: Interesting video by the way!

I think you are a little mixed up here. If the OP honed down the JIS crown race from 27.0 to 26.4. then he would be converting the crown race to use an ISO headset. The "old" JIS is 27.0x 30 and the new is 27.0x 30.2; ISO is 26.4 x 30.2; Sheldon Brown says he has no heard of "any problems when installing the 30.2mm cups into 30.0mm I.D. headtubes". There is certainly nothing wrong with converting to ISO, AAMOF it is a very simple operation and takes about 5 minutes if a LBS has the right tool.

not verktyg, but yes they do VO Alloy Headset, JIS - Headsets - Components (with a 41mm stack height) also, since VO has a $150.00 minimum, you might want to source at another web store; https://harriscyclery.net/product/vel...steel-3540.htm

Velo Orange has a $150 minimum for free shipping. Harris has a $125 minimum. Where's the advantage?

Honing is a machining operation using abrasives to remove small amounts of material, usually for high tolerance parts or to improve the surface finish.

Most head tubes are out of round after brazing... the tube and lugs could have warped or the tube was out of round to begin with.

Notice the small contact points in this head tube.



That's why head tube facing cutters have a reamer to size the bore.

Head tube facing machine at a bike factory.



I have a brass pilot that replaces the reamer on my head tube facing tool. It prevents cutting the bore oversize when I reface a head tube.




The only problem is finding a shop with the correct tool... and someone who knows how to use it!

I reface the head tube and fork crown on just about every bike or frame that I get. It makes adjusting the headset a lot easier plus the bike usually handles better afterwards.

verktyg

Chas.