Steering head bearings.

[neptune]

I was given a bicycle some time ago, and today I fetched it home. It is a hybrid type bike, and I was hoping it might be suitable for electrification. Having had a look at it , it is probably not suitable, being a cheap supermarket special. However it may still have its uses as a spare bike for use in an emergency, or for lending out. I have sorted the punctures and the brakes. The next problem is the steering. The steering head bearings were very tight, but have loosened
off a bit with manipulation, and some oil dripped in without stripping down. Still not good enough though, so I will need to strip it down and clean, check and grease it. It is years since I did a steering head, and years ago, loose ball bearings were used. Does anyone know if caged bearings have taken over these days?

 

[Deleted member 4366]

You can get both. Is it a 1" threaded steerer?

 

[neptune]

It is a threaded steerer. I will measure it tomorrow, and report back. I am a bit worried something might be bent, although it is not obvious. It is OK now turning left, but tight when turning right.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

If they're that bad, you'll need the cups and cones as well.
Dunlop Sport MTB - 1" inch THREADED Complete HEADSET | eBay

 

[neptune]

A strip down today revealed that it is a one inch steerer. There is a caged bearing in the bottom, and no bearing at all in the top! I will asses the rest of the bike before deciding what to do next.

 

[Scimitar]

A strip down today revealed that it is a one inch steerer. There is a caged bearing in the bottom, and no bearing at all in the top! I will asses the rest of the bike before deciding what to do next.

Oops, some gorilla been at it

 

[neptune]

Today, I stripped the fork out of the frame. The steerer tube is bent! You can actually see where it has been rubbing on the inside of the frame headstock. The strange thing is, that the bend is in the opposite direction to that which would be caused by riding the bike into a solid object. Just for the hell off it, I straightened it using my big vice, and a scaffold tube. Not an ideal long term solution, but having re assembled it , using a caged ball bearing I found in my junk box, and it now steers surprisingly well. It was such a nice afternoon that my test ride extended to five miles!