Alright heres the deal,

I am doing a retro track bike conversion, its a sears and roebuck free spirit. I just got it powder coated white (pictures on the way). My problem now is that since its such an old bike its hard to find the right parts to make everything fit. I bought a Origin 8 1" threaded headset and went to install it after I got my bike back from paint, well everything fits like a glove with the new headset but the cups that go into the head set were loose inside of the headtube, meaning they werent needed to be pressed in I got them snug by just assembling it. Now my question is is this ok or did I get a wrong size, because I seriously dont think I did.

I'll never get tired of that gif.

The powdercoat charge probably costed more than the frame itself.

The headset probably costed more than the frame itself.

Actually I payed 30$ for the whole bike at a yardsale, and I liked the frame so I wanted to fix it up. And thanks for answering my question D**ks, you guys were a big help. youd rather be smart a smart a** then answer my question.

I actually came across this but the Sears frame that I had was an Austrian made model. I just used the original cups but used everything else and it worked fine. Mine was even a threadless setup. Just use the original cups if you still have them and their not too rusty or pitted and if the newer bearings will fit into the older cups. Should if there just normal loose bearings and not sealed.

the origin 8 headset will work.


however, i would suggest that instead of buying a new headset for this build, you


THROW IT IN A ****ING FIRE INSTEAD.

if you can't restore a sears bike to its original brand of geared ****tiness and instead elect to convert it by paying **** tons of needless money, you deserve to ride a magna and give up on the fixed gear scene entirely.

yobatts... are you saying disadvantaged and underpaid people are better to seek free advice from? because it sounds like that's what you're saying.

i have a better idea... seek advice from people that you PAY ADVICE FOR, or don't get angry that free advice comes with surly criticism when you have stupid ****ing plans.

A handful of us work at a bike shop, many of us are mechanically inclined, a few of us probably can't change a tube without going to the shop. Obviously the posters who work a shop will have access to a headset press and know how to install one properly, I'm sure some of us made our own headset press...but that's not my point. My point is, if you want mechanic advice, post at the mechanic section.

We'd answer your question if we knew how, but we don't...so don't get all pissed off at us because you did not get what you demanded. I'm pretty sure if you utilize the search function, you will come up with a result.

/Thread

If you want less snarky responses, you should post such questions in the Mechanics forum. This is not a SSFG problem.

Or Classic & Vintage. Those guys have lots of experience and insight for such projects.

C&V would say exactly what everyone here is saying: it's a piece of trash frame that isn't worth putting into money into—including the original $30 investment.

wait wait wait, you paid for a Free Spirit? Hello?

I missed the popcorn

A serious answer.
There are two 1" headset standards in the world.
ISO and JIS. You probably have a mis-match.
If that's not it, then the headtube is damaged, making the frame worth even less than previously thought.