Alan frame, under sized headset solution?

[gadgetman2000]

I'm in the process of my first retro build, a 1980 Alan Super Record. I just received a used (but VGC) Campag Record headset and was surprised to find the races drop straight into the head tube with about 1/4mm of play

Feeling inside the head tube there is a ridge about 25mm in at both ends, suggesting it has been reamed to suit a very slightly bigger headset.

Anyone come across this before? Are there headsets with different outside diameters for the races where they slot into the frame?

As regards a solution, has anyone any clever ideas or is it down to a Coke can shim and some Araldite?

Any help appreciated. Thanks!

 

[47p2]

I would be tempted to try some sort of Loctite or similar semi-setting agent, Araldite would set hard and be impossible to remove at a later stage

 

[monty dog]

According to Sheldon:
http://sheldonbrown.com/cribsheet-headsets.html

they're all pretty much the same size unless you're blessed with an Austrian headset?

Depending on the size difference, you could shrink-fit a sleeve on the headset cup?

Araldite is too brittle for a job like this - it would break-up under impact

 

[gadgetman2000]

Hadn't thought of Loctite. Thanks for that. I'll probably try dry fitting with a shim at the weekend just to get a feel for what I need to do. I'm very conscious of putting too much in the gap, pressing the cups in and ending up splitting the lugs.

As for size, it's just a standard Campag Record, English thread.

 

[47p2]

Loctite is only one of many products nowadays, best speak to someone in the engineering or mechanical trade to see what might be best for your alloy

 

[Robbied196]

Definitely go with a shim, you need a shim to centralise the bearing cups in the headtube, with glue alone you have the potential to have the cups 1/2mm offset to each other. A beer/coke can shim should hopefully be just right but I'd be very careful if its tight. The slightest skewing of the cup with the headset press could fracture the head tube. Its worth leaving the frame by a radiator for an hour and putting the cups in the freezer. A smear of grease inside the edges of the headtube and both cups should push in nicely

 

[gadgetman2000]

That's pretty much exactly how I plan on proceeding. I'm going to sample several different canned beers tonight to check the 'shim' thickness.

I've used the 'one hot, one cold' technique on a fork crown race before - works a treat!

Thanks for your help.

 

[stringfellow1946]

I suggest you use something like these Its well worth getting it right. This is the suff I used if I ever had the same problem.
Hope thats of some help?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/K-S-258-Assor ... 27dad5609c

 

[gadgetman2000]

That's great - thanks very much. I'd searched for aluminium shims but hadn't even thought about brass. The various thicknesses will give me more options.

Much appreciated.

 

[Midlife]

I am no expert but being dissimilar metals won't there be a chance of galvanic action / corrosion with a brass (Copper / zinc) shim?

Shaun