When to replace an internal headset?
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: San Luis Obispo, CA
Posts: 175
Bikes: 1988 Bottecchia Professional (for Eroica), 2011 Ridley Noah ISP (retired), 2020 Soma Fog Cutter (daily commuter), 2021 Ridley Kanzo Adventure (gravel), 2022 Tideace Aero (main road bike).
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 77 Post(s)
Liked 76 Times
in
32 Posts
When to replace an internal headset?
I'm installing a new 12 speed groupset and handlebars/stem on my Ridley and have an opportunity to swap out the headset while bike's apart. The original FSA No.42 headset has 6,000 miles on it.
Replace or just clean up the existing bearings?
Replace or just clean up the existing bearings?
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 33,656
Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!
Mentioned: 39 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2026 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,095 Times
in
741 Posts
Unless there are signs the bearing are pitted or you have "indexing steering", the headset should be fine. Just clean and relube it. 6000 miles is not very much on a decent headset.
Likes For HillRider:
#3
Half way there
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 2,955
Bikes: Many, and the list changes frequently
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 985 Post(s)
Liked 879 Times
in
526 Posts
I second the recommendation above. Clean, relube, and adjust. I have tens of thousands of miles on my 1972 Raleigh Super Course with it's original headset.
Likes For Moe Zhoost: