Headset Problems

[Farmer Sue Tickles]

I am hoping someone can help me.

My bike has a tapered headset bearing. Recently all of the bearing escaped the lower part of the bearing cage. I shopped around but no one local could supply a cage bearing so I decided to go with a sealed one.

I knocked the old cups out of the frame a took it into the LBS. After much head scraping and measuring the assistant advised on a Tange Seiko headset and I bought it.

The problem is I can't get this new headset to tighten up. In fact the bottom part is a sloppy fit at best. The top part is fine. The cups went in fine as did the bearings. However, the crown race just didn't seem to sit right on the steerer tube. There is way too much play and I think the assistant may have incorrectly assumed I had a tapered steerer tube too. I have tried using the old crown race but it doesn't fit against the new bearing very well.

Am I doing something wrong or am I wasting time trying to get it to work? I would be grateful for any advice.

I have attached pics to hopefully explain what I mean.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

Your new and old crown race are not the same. The former seems to be a 1 1/8" and the latter a 1 1/2" race.
Your frame is made for a 1 1/2" steerer but your fork has a 1 1/8" steerer and was originally fitted with a reducer race. Your new headset doesn't have a reducer race.

Does the new headset bottom bearing not work with the old reducer race on the fork?

Many headsets come with a reducer (to 1 1/8") and a 1 1/2" bottom race. Reducers can also be purchased seperately.

 

[Farmer Sue Tickles]

Your new and old crown race are not the same. The former seems to be a 1 1/8" and the latter a 1 1/2" race.
Your frame is made for a 1 1/2" steerer but your fork has a 1 1/8" steerer and was originally fitted with a reducer race. Your new headset doesn't have a reducer race.

Does the new headset bottom bearing not work with the old reducer race on the fork?

Many headsets come with a reducer (to 1 1/8") and a 1 1/2" bottom race. Reducers can also be purchased seperately.

It kind of works, but it is ridged where the former cage bearing sat on top. It is definitely a crown race issue as everything else fits.

I am hoping that the LBS that sold it to me can come up with a reducer solution.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

It kind of works, but it is ridged where the former cage bearing sat on top. It is definitely a crown race issue as everything else fits.

I am hoping that the LBS that sold it to me can come up with a reducer solution.

I put on my spectacles when I took another look. The old reducer race runs directly with caged balls, not a cartridge headset bearing. The new race is both too large and runs on a cartridge bearing. Therefore the old one will not work, as you observed. Yoiu need a reducer.

 

[Farmer Sue Tickles]

I put on my spectacles when I took another look. The old reducer race runs directly with caged balls, not a cartridge headset bearing. The new race is both too large and runs on a cartridge bearing. Therefore the old one will not work, as you observed. Yoiu need a reducer.

Thanks you for your help. LBS apologised and gave me a crown race reducer free of charge.

I am back riding now. 👍