How many ball bearings needed to pack a headset?

[Smurfy]

As per the thread title. I have some new headsets and I want to remove the cages and pack them out with ball bearings. Approximately how many ball bearings do I need for 1 inch and 1 1/8 inch headsets?

 

[ufkacbln]

Allow an extra to replace the one that will roll under a cabinet or work surface

 

[Alun]

If you "pack" them with ball bearings, there is the danger that the headset could partially seize when the bolts are tightened. Best to leave enough space to allow for some movement.

 

[ufkacbln]

If you think that helmet threads are heated, just wait until you see the argument over whether you should remove one or two bearings form the tightly packed headset

 

[ComedyPilot]

What's a headset....?

 

[ufkacbln]

What's a headset....?

A pair of matching helmets?

 

[ComedyPilot]

A pair of matching helmets?

Aren't those coloquially known as 'dickheads'?

 

[mcshroom]

One more than you have in your spare box.


Happy to help

 

[Amanda P]

I'm going to venture a sensible, possibly even useful, answer.

Last time I took apart a headset with un-caged bearings, it had, I think, 25 in each race (top and bottom). It was a 1" threaded headset.

 

[tyred]

I'm going to venture a sensible, possibly even useful, answer.

Last time I took apart a headset with un-caged bearings, it had, I think, 25 in each race (top and bottom). It was a 1" threaded headset.

That is my experience as well but there are oddities. My pre-war Elswick take about a billion 1/8" bearings top and bottom and my early 70s Pug uses 22.

 

[Amanda P]

That is my experience as well but there are oddities.

Granted. But I still think my answer is likely to be more helpful than the foregoing ones (if less amusing).

 

[Svendo]

I disassembled and replaced the cartridge bearings with caged ballbearings in my integrated headset due to indexing in the ball race, and the lower-lower ball race being corroded to the crown race. I think I got 32 in. It wouldn't fit a whole number so it was an easy decision. I find you need at least 3 extra (see Cunelobin's post above).

 

[Ed no-more-lemons]

23 top and 23 bottom, after I had hunted down every one of the little blighters, as I was expecting a caged setup.
I dare say 50 would squeeze in, but I don't suppose that's such a good idea. So I just reassembled the thing as I found it, not having a fresh set of bearings anyway.

 

[byegad]

I always was told you fill the race with as many balls as possible, with all of them fully seated, then remove one ball.

 

[Smurfy]

What's a headset....?

A collection of these.