Bike jocks ar still jocks
ebay, type in "French Headset" you will usually have to scroll down to the buy-it-now part. Pretty expensive... Unless your headset is really trashed I would just repack it with new bearings and grease.
Stronglight still makes the A9 headset in French threading. This is a very capable and durable roller bearing unit. It should be available via Harris cyclery or various Euro outlets. 35-50$. I run A9s on three bikes currently, although oddly none of them are French threaded. Another good source is Rennisance Cycles (sells under bannana_brain on ebay). Slow to ship, but honest-- you get your stuff, and it's usually quite good. 35$ on up... if he's got new old stock Campy record in French threading, you'll pay.
Most of the headsets on older French bikes are pretty sturdy. Unless you have brinelling or another major issue, I'd follow Portland's advice. However, if you're going to run French stuff, a few spares are not a bad idea, so you might pick them up as you can. I keep a big pile, but I've got nine Frenchies running currently.
Most of the headsets on older French bikes are pretty sturdy. Unless you have brinelling or another major issue, I'd follow Portland's advice. However, if you're going to run French stuff, a few spares are not a bad idea, so you might pick them up as you can. I keep a big pile, but I've got nine Frenchies running currently.
Link to supplier of A9:
https://www.xxcycle.com/cgi-bin/shop....GO.x=6&GO.y=13
https://www.xxcycle.com/cgi-bin/shop....GO.x=6&GO.y=13
roll'em high
xxcycle is the jam. that's where i ordered the a9 that i have on my gitane. even with the $10 shipping, they are far cheaper than the $50 that harris wants for it before shipping.
the needle bearings that the a9 have are quite nice and very easy to replace/maintain. probably not too bad of an idea to go ahead and pick up some of the replacement needle bearings when you order the headset.
the needle bearings that the a9 have are quite nice and very easy to replace/maintain. probably not too bad of an idea to go ahead and pick up some of the replacement needle bearings when you order the headset.
King Among Runaways
I put a new Shimano STX headset ($25) into my old Motobecane conversion no problem.
"put a new Shimano STX headset ($25) into my old Motobecane conversion no problem."
Unless the HS is French thread, this is (very) bad advice. Seaden's bike is certainly French thread in the HS (70s Moto). The diameter of French fork steerer tubes is slightly smalller than the BSC standard. You can actually thread a BSC locknut onto a french fork, but it will be slightly loose. Enough to tear off at an inconvient moment. It is likely your bike is either late enough to be English thread (French manufacturers switched over in the eighties) or the fork has been replaced. If your fork is French thread I would abandon this HS setup immediately.
You do have other options aside from hunting down a French HS. Often, in the case of brinelling, it's the lower races that are the problem. You can mix headsets, using the bottom from a standard and the top from a frenchie, although you may have to file down the fork crown race or have it done at a shop. Older French fork crown races are 26.5, Campy Standard 26.4. Please note in the seventies and eighties, you will find french threaded bikes with the fork crown at 26.4 and 27.0 (JIS standard). You can also replace a french fork with an English threaded one; replacing the HS as well. These two fixes work because the interior of the head tube is the same on both a frenchie and a more standard bike, so you can install standard cups in a French frame.
Unless the HS is French thread, this is (very) bad advice. Seaden's bike is certainly French thread in the HS (70s Moto). The diameter of French fork steerer tubes is slightly smalller than the BSC standard. You can actually thread a BSC locknut onto a french fork, but it will be slightly loose. Enough to tear off at an inconvient moment. It is likely your bike is either late enough to be English thread (French manufacturers switched over in the eighties) or the fork has been replaced. If your fork is French thread I would abandon this HS setup immediately.
You do have other options aside from hunting down a French HS. Often, in the case of brinelling, it's the lower races that are the problem. You can mix headsets, using the bottom from a standard and the top from a frenchie, although you may have to file down the fork crown race or have it done at a shop. Older French fork crown races are 26.5, Campy Standard 26.4. Please note in the seventies and eighties, you will find french threaded bikes with the fork crown at 26.4 and 27.0 (JIS standard). You can also replace a french fork with an English threaded one; replacing the HS as well. These two fixes work because the interior of the head tube is the same on both a frenchie and a more standard bike, so you can install standard cups in a French frame.
King Among Runaways
Quote:
Unless the HS is French thread, this is (very) bad advice. Seaden's bike is certainly French thread in the HS (70s Moto). The diameter of French fork steerer tubes is slightly smalller than the BSC standard. You can actually thread a BSC locknut onto a french fork, but it will be slightly loose. Enough to tear off at an inconvient moment. It is likely your bike is either late enough to be English thread (French manufacturers switched over in the eighties) or the fork has been replaced. If your fork is French thread I would abandon this HS setup immediately.
You do have other options aside from hunting down a French HS. Often, in the case of brinelling, it's the lower races that are the problem. You can mix headsets, using the bottom from a standard and the top from a frenchie, although you may have to file down the fork crown race or have it done at a shop. Older French fork crown races are 26.5, Campy Standard 26.4. Please note in the seventies and eighties, you will find french threaded bikes with the fork crown at 26.4 and 27.0 (JIS standard). You can also replace a french fork with an English threaded one; replacing the HS as well. These two fixes work because the interior of the head tube is the same on both a frenchie and a more standard bike, so you can install standard cups in a French frame.
Originally Posted by Poguemahone
"put a new Shimano STX headset ($25) into my old Motobecane conversion no problem."Unless the HS is French thread, this is (very) bad advice. Seaden's bike is certainly French thread in the HS (70s Moto). The diameter of French fork steerer tubes is slightly smalller than the BSC standard. You can actually thread a BSC locknut onto a french fork, but it will be slightly loose. Enough to tear off at an inconvient moment. It is likely your bike is either late enough to be English thread (French manufacturers switched over in the eighties) or the fork has been replaced. If your fork is French thread I would abandon this HS setup immediately.
You do have other options aside from hunting down a French HS. Often, in the case of brinelling, it's the lower races that are the problem. You can mix headsets, using the bottom from a standard and the top from a frenchie, although you may have to file down the fork crown race or have it done at a shop. Older French fork crown races are 26.5, Campy Standard 26.4. Please note in the seventies and eighties, you will find french threaded bikes with the fork crown at 26.4 and 27.0 (JIS standard). You can also replace a french fork with an English threaded one; replacing the HS as well. These two fixes work because the interior of the head tube is the same on both a frenchie and a more standard bike, so you can install standard cups in a French frame.
Yes, I am sorry. I did replace my fork when I made the headset switch.