Marin bear valley 91 headset question

[Stodgy]

Hi,
The headset on my Marin is a little rough. I believe it is 1 1/8, and of the ritchey logic variety. Just wondered if I can regrease it, replace the bearings, or will need to replace the whole thing?

Thanks,
Sam

 

[hamster]

Typically a new set of bearings and a regrease will do. However if the cups have little indentations where the balls have sat, you will need to renew the whole thing.

 

[marc two tone]

many times i have got another years' service from a headset by...


1.strip out and thoroughly clean.

2. inspect crown race/upper and lower cup for pits. if not too bad, re-grease.

3. inspect bearing races. if they readily fallout of cage then, bang some new races in, top and bottom.

4. more grease to the lot and re-fit, enjoy.

lastly, if pitting to crown race and cups is excessive then, get a new headset.
also, you may notice wear/pitting to surfaces are isloated to one third of the surface area( as this is the 'impact' zone. you can often remove cup and rotate quarter turn to fresher metal.

god luck.

 

[Stodgy]

Many thanks for the replies. I take it I can get bearings from the usual suspects or lbs? Will any 1 1/8 bearings do?

Cheers.

 

[marc two tone]

Many thanks for the replies. I take it I can get bearings from the usual suspects or lbs? Will any 1 1/8 bearings do?

Cheers.

yes, they are quite universal. not sure of the exact bb size but the 1.1/8" race thing is universal. double check you need 1.1/8" as they were some 1" stem marins in 1991. even motosave, halfords do them in ready packs, may include grease.

have a look at your quill stem shaft. 22.2" = 1" bearing race.
25.4 = 1.1/8" bearing race.

won't be anything else. . whatever you buy. try one way and flip over to see if one is smoother than the other, go with the smoother.

 

[skoda2]

Try filling the races with loose bearings(no cage) and plenty of grease, not forgetting the seals. Fill the race with bearings and remove 1.

 

[Stodgy]

Cheers guys.
Took it to bits last night and the grease was very dry and sticky. Bearings and bits responded well to degrease so I might be lucky with just the existing bits. I'll let you know the results when I get round to it.
Great to have such helpful people on here.
Sam

 

[Stodgy]

Right, stripped, cleaned and greased. When I say greased, I mean pretty much everything in range.
Feels much better now. Not perfect but it will be fine. It's. It as easy to rotate as a really good headset but it's smooth, if a little draggy.

Thanks for the advice.
Sam