Headset vintage
05-10-20, 05:54 PM
#1
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Headset vintage
I had my vintage bicycle (Debernardi) upside down to clean and check on it the other day and noticed that you can see the bottom bracket bearings. See pic. My question:Should these not be covered to prevent dirt from getting into the bearings?Is there some part missing? This does not seem right to me. Thanks in advance!
05-10-20, 07:50 PM
#2
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No, that's the way they were built...HOWEVER, I never liked that design, and neither did a company called Lizard Skins that made a headset protector made out of neoprene with velcro ends; so you wrap the Lizard Skin thing around the headset and it's good to go. I bought 2 of them over the years, they last a long time, one of mine is around 35 years old and it still does what it was designed to do...and that's keeping water and dirt out of that area.
Last edited by greatscott; 05-10-20 at 07:53 PM.
05-10-20, 08:00 PM
#3
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Most headsets I've used have a smaller gap than that.
Not ideal, but since the headset just sits there and doesn't do much, it's not as critical as keeping BB & wheel bearings clean.
Not ideal, but since the headset just sits there and doesn't do much, it's not as critical as keeping BB & wheel bearings clean.
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05-10-20, 08:36 PM
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Worked fine.
05-10-20, 08:40 PM
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First thing I wonder about is the lower stack (and not the bottom bracket...) ball diameter and count as well as whether a retainer ring is upside down. next up is whether a plastic gap sealing ring has broken and fallen offf. But using a lizard skin or tube section are good ways to keep most of the big crap out in the future. Do you know the headset brand or model? Andy
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AndrewRStewart
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05-11-20, 06:23 AM
#6
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Seems a large gap and the ball bearings do not seem to be lines up in a circle.
Could be one too many in there.
Could be one too many in there.
05-11-20, 06:32 AM
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I'm fixing up a 1979 Trek 510. It had a headset like that where you could see the bearings. I decided to replace it but I like JohnDThompson 's idea of using an old inner tube. You have to like a cheap and effective hack.
05-11-20, 03:19 PM
#8
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First thing I wonder about is the lower stack (and not the bottom bracket...) ball diameter and count as well as whether a retainer ring is upside down. next up is whether a plastic gap sealing ring has broken and fallen offf. But using a lizard skin or tube section are good ways to keep most of the big crap out in the future. Do you know the headset brand or model? Andy
05-11-20, 03:21 PM
#9
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No, that's the way they were built...HOWEVER, I never liked that design, and neither did a company called Lizard Skins that made a headset protector made out of neoprene with velcro ends; so you wrap the Lizard Skin thing around the headset and it's good to go. I bought 2 of them over the years, they last a long time, one of mine is around 35 years old and it still does what it was designed to do...and that's keeping water and dirt out of that area.
05-13-20, 02:43 AM
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That space is to big, the seal is probably missing, see Campagnolo Spare Parts Catalogue - 1995 Product Range page 4
05-13-20, 06:21 AM
#11
Industry guy
Is it possible the fork crown race is on upside down? The profile of the crown race seems very odd, IMO.
Campagnolo headsets ( of all levels) are more precise than this.
A retainer upside down or to many bearings( both mentioned above) may also be in play.
rusty
Campagnolo headsets ( of all levels) are more precise than this.
A retainer upside down or to many bearings( both mentioned above) may also be in play.
rusty
05-13-20, 07:25 AM
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I agree with Rusty in the above post. It sure looks like the crown race is upside down.
05-13-20, 06:29 PM
#13
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That space is to big, the seal is probably missing, see Campagnolo Spare Parts Catalogue - 1995 Product Range page 4
05-13-20, 06:32 PM
#14
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05-13-20, 06:41 PM
#15
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thanks. I agree. it seems odd.
10-17-20, 03:53 AM
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Fork crown race is definitely upside down.
