Headset bearing advice

[Mick D]

I am in the process of rebuilding my Raleigh ThunderRoad, And was planning to replace the headset bearings as the cup are smooth. LBS does not stock bearing for headset either replacement headset or rebuild with loose baerings.
Can anybody offer any advice of companys that supply bearing for such purpose.
Headset is 1".
Bike from 1990.

Thanks
Mick D

 

[drystonepaul]

I suggest you find either a good hardware/engineering suppliers or a dedicated bearing supplier.
Take along some of your old loose bearings to them and they should be able to find you the correct sized replacements.

Bike shops will only generally supply a limited range of common sizes, and they will also charge much more than alternative bearing suppliers.

 

[sancho]

http://www.biketoolsetc.com/index.cgi?i ... 20grade&s=

 

[Chris]

Halfrauds sell loose and caged bearings for headsets and bottom brackets.

 

[Dead Rats]

beware, lots of older Raleighs have 21.1mm stem and headset size - check your stem shaft OD

OT - not only that but the older road Raleighs have 26TPI threads on forks, unlike seemingly the rest of the world that used/uses 24TPI

 

[Xesh]

Don't bother with the cages, just use loose balls. You'll be able to fit more bearings in which will spread the load and extend the life of the bearing surfaces slightly. It'll also have the effect of making the headset run more smoothly.

 

[Mick D]

Thanks all for your surgestions, will try the loose bearing option first before anything else.

Mick