Re: [CR] Stronglight roller bearing headset (was: OMAS Head Set Question)

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Date: Thu, 15 Apr 2010 16:36:12 -0500
From: "John Thompson" <johndthompson@gmail.com>
Organization: The Crimson Permanent Assurance
To: Classic Rendezvous <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
References: <189729.95774.qm@web53607.mail.re2.yahoo.com> <28186.21787.qm@web57706.mail.re3.yahoo.com> <CB71064BAEB748B9A47D39874EC40772@ARSPC>
In-Reply-To:
Subject: Re: [CR] Stronglight roller bearing headset (was: OMAS Head Set Question)


Andrew R Stewart wrote:
> I always have thought that a problem with the Strongelight roller
> headsets was the need to clean them out all the time so you could add
> more grease. They used a thick plastic roller carrier ring.

FWIW, I did an experiment with a Stronglight A9 roller bearing headset. I installed a new A9 on my commuter bike in 1987 and did *NO* maintenance on it for 20 years. Nothing at all. I just installed it, adjusted it, and rode it for 20 years. In 2007 I opened it up to take a look. Here's what I found:

http://www.os2.dhs.org/~john/A9.jpg

There's a trace of fretting damage on the lower races, but nothing noticable on the upper races. I swapped upper and lower races, repacked it in fresh grease, adjusted it (still smooth as ever), and will check again in 2027. :)

--

-John Thompson (john@os2.dhs.org)
Appleton WI USA