My headset is feeling pretty rough these days, and my attempt to grease the bearings ended up with most of the bearings on my garage floor...
So, I was thinking about changing it.
2 questions:
1) Should I just replace the bearings (somehow)
2) It's listed as "VP-A42E 1-1/8" semi-integrated, sealed" headset - is [url= http://www.freemanscycles.co.uk/bicycle-parts/headsets/ahead-threadless-headsets/cane-creek-1-1-8-semi-integrated-headset.html ]this[/url] what I'm looking for? If not, can you point me in the right direction?
Thanks!
That one will do it, many others are available.
You need to make sure whether or not it comes with the crown race... 😉
that one would do but personally I would avoid a 'semi-cartride' type and go for a full cartridge bearing.
You could possibly just buy new balls for yours as it sounds like a loose ball one.
Either full cartridge bearings or replace with a hope
Is there any advantage of replacing the headset over just replacing the bearings (as long as I don't drop this set on the floor...)?
Oh, and I really don't want to spend too much to make the bike rideable. I've just invested in a full suss Canyon and I am just fettling this bike before I ship it out to my parents' house in the south of France for me to play on in the summer 😀
the headset you have sounds like an OEM cane creek - ie not the same quality as the the good cane creek stuff. That one you posted also looks like an OEM one.
The balls probably run on the cups themselves so if allowed to wear too much then the cups will be knackered. The advantage of cartridge bearings is there is no wear to the headset parts other than the bearing units.
Did the balls come in a cage or just by themselves? The size should be pretty common and normally imperial and you should be able to get them at a bike shop or from a bearing manufacturer.
The balls were/mostly still are in a little compartment-ed ring thing: [url= http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=16793926 ]here[/url]
The crown race comes with the headset.
Sorry.
Double sorry as someone has already cracked that one.
I'm still totally confused by all of this!
Can someone point me in the direction of the appropriate sized bearings and/or an appropriate replacement headset? I'm getting myself all muddled 😳
Have a read of this: http://sheldonbrown.com/headsets.html
Down the bottom in the 'overhaul' bit is what you want. You will have to measure your balls though. Can't help you there.
edit: you want a headset like this by the looks of it: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=57956
but fitting it will require knocking the old one out, pressing the new one in (straight) and swapping over the crown race (tricky)
Depending on your budget i can suggest a couple of possible headsets for you. For £35 you can get this FSA one, i have used this before and got 2 years out of it before the bearings began to get gritty. With a little tlc they were right as rain again.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=51070
If you don't want to stretch to £35 for £26 you can get this FSA headset which uses the same sealed TH bearings as the above headset and they are fairly readily available for about a tenner a bearing.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=15888