Re: [CR]Raleigh Super Course Headset?

(Example: Component Manufacturers:Ideale)

Date: Sat, 30 Apr 2005 14:13:20 -0400
From: Marcus Coles <marcoles@ody.ca>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: Re: [CR]Raleigh Super Course Headset?
References: <DMEJIHDFKPCMMPJEINFDAEDIDNAA.otis@otisrecords.com> <001201c54dac$25fb5870$6401a8c0@peter5x12klm15>
In-Reply-To: <001201c54dac$25fb5870$6401a8c0@peter5x12klm15>


Pete Geurds wrote:
> From: "Otis" <otis@otisrecords.com>
> Subject: [CR]Raleigh Super Course Headset?
>
>
>> I have an early 70's Super Course that I've been using as a fixed gear
>> beater to run errands on and such. But I've come to like it enough to
>> upgrade the parts a bit. The stock headset is junk, and I thought no
>> problem
>> I have used NR and Dura Ace English headsets around I could donate to
>> the
>> cause but they do not want to thread on. Looks like a little finer
>> pitch,
>> and the bearing race nuts I have all seize before they clear the top
>> of the
>> steerer. So just what size is this, and is there a decent, affordable
>> headset available (needs a 27.0 fork race as well)? Thanks in advance.
>
>
> Jon,
> I have a 77 Super Course.
> It has British threads on both bottom bracket and headset.
> The fork race is 27.0 and the cups in the headtube must have been 30.0
> originally.
> (Since when I borrowed a reamer/facer to clean up headtube it took a
> full cut and now uses a 30.2 standard road size headset cups.
> Don't be fooled by damaged threads as I was.
> I could get neither the Raleigh (26tpi) or a standard(24tpi) threaded
> race to thread onto the steerer tube properly until threads were
> restored.
>
> Is the bottom bracket on yours standard thread or is it Raleigh thread?
> Raleigh bottom bracket fixed cups have a distinctive look and use a
> tool you probably don't have.
> Bottom bracket threading usually matches headset's.
> Is it possible fork was replaced?
> Note: I have a 78 Super Grand Prix which is a notch down from a S/C
> and it uses Raleigh threaded parts.
> Could have come from Raleigh with a wrong fork I suppose. They've been
> known to have substituted parts on occasion.
> Check out: http://sheldonbrown.com/oldbikes/index.html
>
> Pete Geurds
> Douglassville, Pa
>

I agree with Pete on this one. Based on my admitedly limited experience, my rule of thumb is unless the Raleigh was actually made in the Nottingham plant it is probably BSC threaded. My guess is your SC would have been made at the Carlton, Worksop facility with BSC bits.

I have seen some strange anomalies in Raleigh volume produced bikes and can only assume production was often modified on the fly, due to parts availability or the phase of the moon, there are no hard and fast rules.

Marcus Coles
London, Ontario, Canada