Shimano cartridge headset bearings - can they be cleaned?

Zog The Undeniable <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> I have a Cannondale with - unfortunately - a 1 1/4" headset size. After phoning virtually every
> bike shop in Britain, I managed to find an XT cartridge bearing headset for it when the original
> headset wore out, plus an extra set of cartridge bearings. As these are now (to the best of my
> knowledge) irreplaceable, is there any way to clean and regrease the cartridges? I've never
> touched the spare set of cartridges but the first set are a bit dirty, although otherwise
> undamaged. I'd really like to keep them going as long as possible - unless anyone knows of a
> secret source of new cartridges?

If the cartidges are anything like my 1" Ultegra cartridges, it's pretty easy to remove the
cartridge, pry off the seal, clean and regrease. After removing the fork, the cartridges come out of
the cups easily (finger pressure). Gently prying the seal with a small screwdriver gets it down to
the naked bearings.

I think 1 1/4" threaded headsets are still made by Chris King:
http://harriscyclery.net/site/page.cfm?PageID=49&SKU=HD7821 although they come at a very dear price.

Jeff

My Bike Friday uses a 1-1/4" XT headset. I bought a spare set of cartridge bearings for it from
either www.sdeals.com or www.settlecycles.co.uk a couple of years ago. Also, www.bicycles.de were
selling 1-1/4" XTR headsets on special for 10 Euros a while ago, so I bought a couple of them as
spares. I don't know if they still have them.

Nick

"Zog The Undeniable" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> I have a Cannondale with - unfortunately - a 1 1/4" headset size. After phoning virtually every
> bike shop in Britain, I managed to find an XT cartridge bearing headset for it when the original
> headset wore out, plus an extra set of cartridge bearings. As these are now (to the best of my
> knowledge) irreplaceable, is there any way to clean and regrease the cartridges? I've never
> touched the spare set of cartridges but the first set are a bit dirty, although otherwise
> undamaged. I'd really like to keep them going as long as possible - unless anyone knows of a
> secret source of new cartridges?

"Zog The Undeniable" <[email protected]> wrote:

> I have a Cannondale with - unfortunately - a 1 1/4" headset size. After phoning virtually every
> bike shop in Britain, I managed to find an XT cartridge bearing headset for it when the original
> headset wore out, plus an extra set of cartridge bearings. As these are now (to the best of my
> knowledge) irreplaceable, is there any way to clean and regrease the cartridges? I've never
> touched the spare set of cartridges but the first set are a bit dirty, although otherwise
> undamaged. I'd really like to keep them going as long as possible - unless anyone knows of a
> secret source of new cartridges?

I have a spare XT cartridge 1 1/4" headset, new and complete, that I'd be happy to part with. My reply-
to address is valid.

I would have e-mailed this reply, but couldn't - for obvious reasons.

James Thomson

ggg-<< I managed to find an XT cartridge bearing headset for it when the original headset wore out,
plus an extra set of cartridge bearings. >><BR><BR> << is there any way to clean and regrease the
cartridges? >><BR><BR>

Yes, you can carefully pry the plastic retainer off and add grease.

Peter Chisholm Vecchio's Bicicletteria 1833 Pearl St. Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535 http://www.vecchios.com "Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"

Qui si parla Campagnolo wrote:

> Yes, you can carefully pry the plastic retainer off and add grease.

Thanks for the answers - will give it a go. James - I'll be in touch if it all goes
horribly wrong <g