Kilroy1988 

Hello folks,

I bought a 1972 Raleigh International frameset over the weekend at Eroica CA and picked up a nice Nuovo Record headset with English threading to match. This morning my uncle and I attempted to punch it into the headtube with his die set, which we recently did with another frame and that process went smoothly... However, in this case we were sure that it almost seemed as if the head tube diameter was too small by just a touch, and we did not want to attempt to smash it in. I had cleaned the top, bottom and inside of the tube with steel wool and it looks very nice, so I don't think there's any material build up causing the issue.

Were these headsets ever made with different diameter races? I had assumed they were one-size-fits-all when it came to 1" steerer tubes. We have a ream and can take a tiny bit of material out of the head tube but wanted to check and make sure that we don't just have the wrong match. Thanks!

-Gregory

SurferRosa

Except for the crown race, even the french pressed headset parts are the same size.

T-Mar

Campagnolo did offer the top and bottom pressed races in a 0.5mm larger diameter, for frames with worn head tubes that had developed loose pressed races.

Edit: Here's the catalogue page. See text circled in red.

Kilroy1988 

Thanks, T-Mar ! Excellent sleuthing, as always. So, considering the head tube does NOT seem to have loosened up much, does reaming out a little bit where it overlaps the lugs seem like such a bad idea? Or should I do about 50/50 and file on the races a bit as well? It's obviously super close and I don't want to have to sell and buy another headset, so I plan to make it work one way or the other...

-Gregory

BFisher

Have you measured to confirm that the headset cups are slightly oversized? That would be my first step.

You could test fit another set of cups if you have some. Head tube could be slightly out of round.

If reaming, I'd go really light, and test as I went. In the event you ever need to replace, you may not want to deal with an oversized head tube.

And don't forget to grease the flanges.

repechage

Internationals had Campagnolo as original equipment...
that said, it's Raleigh!
a problem is the head tube should have some plating, not a lot but some.

getting someone to ream it will be tough as chrome kills cutters.

I would - as suggested double check the two press fit components.
is this headset NOS? In a box, if with box any markings?
measure the crown race seat on the fork too.
cracking a crown race is tragic.
the Complete Campagnolo tool kit had a Passa/ no passa fit gauge to check the frame.
be terrific to locate person or shop with one.
there should be a very slight interference fit- like .02mm.

all the above is why I spent the money on a Campagnolo tool chest, besides just a pleasure to look at.

would not surprise me if Raleigh just jammed them together. I have a Gios that was once a bike but the headtube never saw a reamer
i might have been able to jam in a Super Record...