Headset lifetime?

clyde-<< In another thread, 10+ years was mentioned as the lifetime of a headset. I bought my first
road bike, Bianchi San Remo, 3 years ago, and I noticed headset indexing in the second season of
use. Is this because I didn't disassemble and grease the bearings every year, or was it adjusted too
tight to begin with? >><BR><BR>

yes....

Peter Chisholm Vecchio's Bicicletteria 1833 Pearl St. Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535 vecchios.comvecchios.comOpen ↗ "Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"

Clyde said:

In another thread, 10+ years was mentioned as the lifetime of a headset. I bought my first road
bike, Bianchi San Remo, 3 years ago, and I noticed headset indexing in the second season of use.
Is this because I didn't disassemble and grease the bearings every year, or was it adjusted too
tight to begin with? I bought it new from a Bianchi dealer. It has a Bianchi alloy headset.

What kind of headset? A properly maintained, high quality headset should last more than 2 years,
unless you're beating the hell out of it. And even then I'd expect better.

FWIW, I have several Campy Record (steel) headsets almost 20 years old that are still going strong,
and Stronglight alloy roller bearing headsets of similar vintage still working just fine. I
installed a Stronglight Delta on my tandem 18 years ago and it's still fine.

--

-John ([email hidden])

Clyde said:

In another thread, 10+ years was mentioned as the lifetime of a headset. I bought my first road
bike, Bianchi San Remo, 3 years ago, and I noticed headset indexing in the second season of use.
Is this because I didn't disassemble and grease the bearings every year, or was it adjusted too
tight to begin with? I bought it new from a Bianchi dealer. It has a Bianchi alloy headset.

I've destroyed a Shimano 1055 headset in 500 miles. They just weren't very good.

Clyde said:

In another thread, 10+ years was mentioned as the lifetime of a headset. I bought my first road
bike, Bianchi San Remo, 3 years ago, and I noticed headset indexing in the second season of use.
Is this because I didn't disassemble and grease the bearings every year, or was it adjusted too
tight to begin with? I bought it new from a Bianchi dealer. It has a Bianchi alloy headset.

First, wear shouldn't be predicted based on years, but on miles of use. Your headset was probably
adjusted too tight and/or installed with too little grease.

The most durable headset I've ever used is a Campy Chorus. As for maintenance, I have to admit I
haven't touched it since I put it on the bike.

Art Harris

my money is on either ultra-low quality or incorrectly adjusted. it's very common for head sets to
be too tight and this destroys the bearings. same goes for wheel bearings.

Clyde said:

In another thread, 10+ years was mentioned as the lifetime of a headset. I bought my first road
bike, Bianchi San Remo, 3 years ago, and I noticed headset indexing in the second season of use.
Is this because I didn't disassemble and grease the bearings every year, or was it adjusted too
tight to begin with? I bought it new from a Bianchi dealer. It has a Bianchi alloy headset.

Clyde

Clyde said:

In another thread, 10+ years was mentioned as the lifetime of a headset. I bought my first road
bike, Bianchi San Remo, 3 years ago, and I noticed headset indexing in the second season of use.
Is this because I didn't disassemble and grease the bearings every year, or was it adjusted too
tight to begin with? I bought it new from a Bianchi dealer. It has a Bianchi alloy headset.

Most likely overtightened, possibly with a lack of lubrication.

It is possible to turn a headset adjustment another half turn or more past the optimally slight
preload which will just eat up the system.

--
Andrew Muzi www.yellowjersey.org Open every day since 1 April, 1971

Quoted message said:

I've destroyed a Shimano 1055 headset in 500 miles. They just weren't very good.

Several of my bikes over the years came with el-cheapo-bastardo headsets (much lower quality than
the '105 you had) which I said I'd get around to upgrading when they wore out. Trouble is, even the
very cheapest headset, when properly adjusted, will take forever to wear out. If I had a headset
that wore out in less than 30k miles, I don't remember it.

The key is adjustment. Most (nearly all?) threaded headsets start their life out adjusted too
tightly, and this kills 'em. A new headset can be easily overtightened and still feel smooth. The
*only* way I've found to adjust a headset properly is with the "bounce" test. Loosen the headset
until you hear an extra vibration when you bounce the front wheel on the ground (a couple inches
will do), and then tighten it ONLY ENOUGH SO THAT SOUND GOES AWAY. No more. You'll have to do this
in very small increments, and tighten the locknut against the cone each time. But it doesn't take
long, and will result in a headset that will last longer than you'd imagine.

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles chainreactionbicycles.comchainreactionbicycles.comOpen ↗

"Zog The Undeniable" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Clyde said:

In another thread, 10+ years was mentioned as the lifetime of a headset. I bought my first road
bike, Bianchi San Remo, 3 years ago, and I noticed headset indexing in the second season of use.
Is this because I didn't disassemble and grease the bearings every year, or was it adjusted too
tight to begin with? I bought it new from a Bianchi dealer. It has a Bianchi alloy headset.

I've destroyed a Shimano 1055 headset in 500 miles. They just weren't very good.

Do you regrease those headsets now and then, or are you saying that you have not touched them in all
that time?

Clyde

"John Thompson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

FWIW, I have several Campy Record (steel) headsets almost 20 years old that are still going
strong, and Stronglight alloy roller bearing headsets of similar vintage still working just fine.
I installed a Stronglight Delta on my tandem 18 years ago and it's still fine.

--

-John ([email hidden])

Mike Jacoubowsky said:

The key is adjustment. Most (nearly all?) threaded headsets start their life out adjusted too
tightly, and this kills 'em. A new headset can be easily overtightened and still feel smooth.
The *only* way I've found to adjust a headset properly is with the "bounce" test. Loosen the
headset until you hear an extra vibration when you bounce the front wheel on the ground (a
couple inches will
do), and then tighten it ONLY ENOUGH SO THAT SOUND GOES AWAY. No more. You'll have to do this in
very small increments, and tighten the locknut against the cone each time. But it doesn't take
long, and will result in a headset that will last longer than you'd imagine.

I find the best way to adjust a headset is to remove the wheel and the stem. Not quick and
convenient, but it lets you feel exactly how much bearing drag there is before and after tightening.
Most of the time, I use the "rocking test": lock up the front brake and rock the bike back and
forth. Slop in the bearing adjustment is audible and tactile. The adjustment process is the same-
small increment until the slop *just* goes away. The bars should swing freely from lock to lock. IME
this also makes the bike easier to ride no-handed.

Arthur Harris said:

The most durable headset I've ever used is a Campy Chorus. As for maintenance, I have to admit I
haven't touched it since I put it on the bike.

I have two that seem really durable: a DiaCompe Threadset which appears to have cartridge bearings;
it came in a frame I bought used 5 years ago, which was 4-5 years old when I bought it. I've never
regreased it and haven't had to adjust it in years.

The other is a Stronglight with tapered roller bearings (an A9 perhaps? I don't remember). I've had
it since 1996 on one of my favorite bikes, it's got at leasy 15,000 miles on it, has been regreased
twice, and remains silky smooth.

My wife's bike has a Stronglight X-84 or something, with a weird aluminum and Zytel nut that takes a
special tool to adjust; it too has tapered roller bearings and seems to have been quite durable so
far, if overly complicated inside. It needs readjustment every few thousand miles, though, as there
is no jam nut. Strange design.

John Thompson said:

Clyde said:

In another thread, 10+ years was mentioned as the lifetime of a headset. I bought my first road
bike, Bianchi San Remo, 3 years ago, and I noticed headset indexing in the second season of use.
Is this because I didn't disassemble and grease the bearings every year, or was it adjusted too
tight to begin with? I bought it new from a Bianchi dealer. It has a Bianchi alloy headset.

What kind of headset? A properly maintained, high quality headset should last more than 2 years,
unless you're beating the hell out of
it. And even then I'd expect better.

What does "beating the hell out of it" have to do with it? Headsets wear out by developing "detents"
in the lower race. This is not the result of beating or bumps, it is the result of metal-to-metal
wear. The grease gets pushed out from between the ball and the cup and cone. Long straight descents,
being clamped in a fork-mount roof rack, etc. are situations which cause this characteristic wear.
It's not from dents being caused by hitting bumps. See the FAQ.

Quoted message said:

Clyde said:

In another thread, 10+ years was mentioned as the lifetime of a headset. I bought my first road
bike, Bianchi San Remo, 3 years ago, and I noticed headset indexing in the second season of use.
Is this because I didn't disassemble and grease the bearings every year, or was it adjusted too
tight to begin with? I bought it new from a Bianchi dealer. It has a Bianchi alloy headset.

Zog The Undeniable said:

I've destroyed a Shimano 1055 headset in 500 miles. They just weren't very good.

I'm as critical of Shimano as anyone, but there is no reason your headset should not have gone
twenty years like all the many Shimano New 105 headsets we installed here in the eighties. Nice
product at a good price, IMHO.

All headsets have issues of frame prep and initial ajustment/lube, no matter who made them

--
Andrew Muzi www.yellowjersey.org Open every day since 1 April, 1971

Mike, are these cheapo headsets regreased at some interval of time, or not?

Clyde

"Mike Jacoubowsky" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Several of my bikes over the years came with el-cheapo-bastardo headsets (much lower quality than
the '105 you had) which I said I'd get around to upgrading when they wore out. Trouble is, even
the very cheapest headset, when properly adjusted, will take forever to wear out. If I had a
headset that wore out in less than 30k miles, I don't remember it.

it definitely won't hurt, but imo, it's not the most critical issue. see the "headset cheap fix"
thread earlier. diane_1234 has some pics of a dead headset.

the damage you see there would not have been prevented by lube, _but_ if you /are/ regularly
regreasing, chances are you will learn how to set up the bearings properly and this in itself will
go a long way towards preventing premature failure.

Clyde said:

Do you regrease those headsets now and then, or are you saying that you have not touched them in
all that time?

Clyde

"John Thompson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

FWIW, I have several Campy Record (steel) headsets almost 20 years old that are still going
strong, and Stronglight alloy roller bearing headsets of similar vintage still working just fine.
I installed a Stronglight Delta on my tandem 18 years ago and it's still fine.

--

-John ([email hidden])

"Mike Jacoubowsky" <[email hidden]> wrote in
:"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

The key is adjustment. Most (nearly all?) threaded headsets start their life out adjusted too
tightly, and this kills 'em. A new headset can be easily overtightened and still feel smooth. The
*only* way I've found to adjust a headset properly is with the "bounce" test. Loosen the headset
until you hear an extra vibration when you bounce the front wheel on the ground (a couple inches
will do), and then tighten it ONLY ENOUGH SO THAT SOUND GOES AWAY. No more. You'll have to do this
in very small increments, and tighten the locknut against the cone each time. But it doesn't take
long, and will result in a headset that will last longer than you'd imagine.

You must have good ears. I haven't been able to hear any difference. I adjust the headset by
applying the front brake and rocking the bike back and forth and feeling for play.

Clyde said:

"John Thompson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

FWIW, I have several Campy Record (steel) headsets almost 20 years old that are still going
strong, and Stronglight alloy roller bearing headsets of similar vintage still working just fine.
I installed a Stronglight Delta on my tandem 18 years ago and it's still fine.

Quoted message said:

Do you regrease those headsets now and then, or are you saying that you have not touched them in
all that time?

Every few years, yes. I used to do it every year but I've gotten lazy.

--

-John ([email hidden])

Tim McNamara said:

John Thompson <[email hidden]> writes:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

What kind of headset? A properly maintained, high quality headset should last more than 2 years,
unless you're beating the hell out of
it. And even then I'd expect better.

Quoted message said:

What does "beating the hell out of it" have to do with it? Headsets wear out by developing
"detents" in the lower race. This is not the result of beating or bumps, it is the result of
metal-to-metal wear.

I never said it was. "Beating the hell out of it" can mean a lot of things, including exposure to
abrasive grit, high-pressure washing blowing the grease out of the races, etc.

--

-John ([email hidden])

Mike Jacoubowsky said:

Quoted message said:

I've destroyed a Shimano 1055 headset in 500 miles. They just weren't very good.

Several of my bikes over the years came with el-cheapo-bastardo headsets (much lower quality than
the '105 you had) which I said I'd get around to upgrading when they wore out. Trouble is, even
the very cheapest headset, when properly adjusted, will take forever to wear out. If I had a
headset that wore out in less than 30k miles, I don't remember it.

Improperly faced race seats can prevent proper adjustment and accellerate wear. Since you own a shop
I suspect you made sure everything was done right... :-)

--

-John ([email hidden])

Andrew Muzi said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

In another thread, 10+ years was mentioned as the lifetime of a headset. I bought my first road
bike, Bianchi San Remo, 3 years ago, and I noticed headset indexing in the second season of use.
Is this because I didn't disassemble and grease the bearings every year, or was it adjusted too
tight to begin with? I bought it new from a Bianchi dealer. It has a Bianchi alloy headset.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I've destroyed a Shimano 1055 headset in 500 miles. They just weren't very good.

Quoted message said:

I'm as critical of Shimano as anyone, but there is no reason your headset should not have gone
twenty years like all the many Shimano New 105 headsets we installed here in the eighties. Nice
product at a good price, IMHO.

I'd rather see that expressed in miles. I know lots of folks whose headsets lasted more then 20
years but then they don't ride either.

Quoted message said:

All headsets have issues of frame prep and initial adjustment/lube, no matter who made them

I don't believe the Shimano type head sets are sensitive to non parallel head tube ends, having
spherical seats for the angular contact cartridge bearings. Fork crown swivel is by far a greater
fretting load that any imperfection in head tube parallelism can generate. In fact, I have a hard
time visualizing what that could do other than interfere with a heat set with rigid position races.

Jobst Brandt [email hidden]