2001 Saracen X-ile standard headset cartridge removal and upgrade

[Craig1905]

Hi there,

New member here, looking to fully refurb my bike from my teenage years ready to start riding with my kids now they’re getting older.

Fully stripping bike to bare metal before respraying and rebuilding. I have done all this before so sure I have most jobs covered, working on bikes is like riding a bike, surely.

I have never removed a headset though, on mine it’s printed with the wording “cartridge system inside”. I think from reading that I need a big flat head and a hammer to remove, but cautious about breaking the frame if it isn’t supposed to come out how I think it should.

Any tips/advice muchly appreciated

Craig

 

[trailstar82]

Get yourself one of these, a little cheaper on the big evil A.

https://www.wiggle.co.uk/lifeline-headset-cup-remover-1

 

[trailstar82]

And I always forget to do this……

Welcome to retrobike

 

[Craig1905]

Get yourself one of these, a little cheaper on the big evil A.

https://www.wiggle.co.uk/lifeline-headset-cup-remover-1
View attachment 611631

Many thanks, would something like the blingy FSA or Hope headsets be a direct replacement once mine is out? I don’t believe it’s knackered, despite being 21 years old, it’s more that while I’m doing the bike up, it would be nice to tart it up a little with some shiny parts.

 

[trailstar82]

Looks to me like a standard 11/8th aheadset. There are plenty around still and hope, fsa, Chris king etc come up on here fairly regularly in both the 97 and 98+ “For sale” sections. It all depends on how deep your pockets are and which direction you want to take your build. For example I picked up a new cane creek recently for around £30, it’s period correct-ish and really good quality.

 

[Craig1905]

That exactly what I wanted to hear.

Cheers!

 

[mk one]

Hi Craig and welcome to the forum.

If you plan on replacing the headset and not keeping the one in then you can tap it out with a screwdriver quite easily. If you plan on keeping the headset then ideally use something softer so as not to damage the headset cups as they will be softer than the driver, i use an aluminium rod, if you have nothing soft then a piece of cloth wraped around the driver tip will help. Make sure its on the lip inside and keep moving the driver around as you tap so it comes out evenly, makes it easier.

Plenty of 1-1/8" headsets, second hand and new to suit most pockets. You will need to press the new one in, tools for that too though you can quite easily knock them in with a piece of flat wood laid over the cup and tap in with a hammer, most important thing is to keep the piece of wood flat and make sure the headset cup goes in evenly until seated. Alternatively you could just take it to your LBS and get them to press it in with their tool, will take them seconds, if you know them or they are friendly then should not really cost anything/much. Quite happy to help if you are in the area!?

 

[Craig1905]

The projects been held up due to work and an accident at the painting/stencilling stage by me but just a little a little update after all the helpful advice I got.

3 or 4 big bangs each with a very large flat head and rubber mallet and both sides of the headset dropped out. No damage to frame or headset but I ordered a Cane Creek S6 off eBay and it fits frame and forks perfectly.

Amazed at how easily the headset came out once I knew I was doing it the right way.

Now to sand the bodged stencilling down while I await for paint and the correct vinyl…

 

[sam_white]

These bikes are a standard 1 1/8" headset. Here's mine, with an FSA Pig

 

[Bunglebiker]

Hi there,

New member here, looking to fully refurb my bike from my teenage years ready to start riding with my kids now they’re getting older.

Fully stripping bike to bare metal before respraying and rebuilding. I have done all this before so sure I have most jobs covered, working on bikes is like riding a bike, surely.

I have never removed a headset though, on mine it’s printed with the wording “cartridge system inside”. I think from reading that I need a big flat head and a hammer to remove, but cautious about breaking the frame if it isn’t supposed to come out how I think it should.

Any tips/advice muchly appreciated

Craig

Hi Craig,

My nephew has just given me a box of bits and a frame that is an X-ile and asked if I could rebuild it. I am going though these parts and I'm not sure if all the head set parts are present. would you happen to know how many parts make up the headset?

kind regards,

Bungle