noob question re: headset & forks ?

[chaser]

Hi Robadub,

I am in Cannock, I am a newbie to retro myself - I do have chain lube for blood though

Give me a call if you want any help... Got all the tools.

DO NOT use the hammer and block of wood method! I must admit I have done it in the past but you should not do this with a King HS and Retro frame.

Make sure you c'dale is not an inch and a quarter head tube - some of them are.

My mobile no is 07815 911827, pls feel free to call me.

Chaser.

 

[robadub]

Hi Robadub,

I am in Cannock, I am a newbie to retro myself - I do have chain lube for blood though

Give me a call if you want any help... Got all the tools.

DO NOT use the hammer and block of wood method! I must admit I have done it in the past but you should not do this with a King HS and Retro frame.

Make sure you c'dale is not an inch and a quarter head tube - some of them are.

My mobile no is 07815 911827, pls feel free to call me.

Chaser.

good to see a fellow salopian on here cherry !

how would i check that it isnt an an inch and a quarter head tube ? just measure it ?

also can anyone reccomend a decent bike maintenance book i can grab from the library ?

thanks for the offers of help from everyone too !

 

[pete_mcc]

Key words that I have picked up here:

noob
cannondale
king
mallet
bits of wood


All say NO don't do it! Get your LBS to do it. Alloy framed bikes have a habit of cracking at the headtube it you put the headset in wrong which is so easy if you don't know what you are doing or are using a hammer. King headsets are too expesive to use hammers on even if you do know what you're doing. You'd also be able to ensure that yours is a 1 1/8" as Cannondale used all three sizes back in the day and have continued to confuse everyone by using their own headshox size and 1 1/2" as well on the modern ones..

As suggested above, get down to your lbs and ask them to show you. It's only when you see the quality tools that they use and the time they take to do it that you'll think ' what was I thinking? !

Good luck and show us the result

 

[kaiser]

Key words that I have picked up here:

noob
cannondale
king
mallet
bits of wood


All say NO don't do it! Get your LBS to do it. Alloy framed bikes have a habit of cracking at the headtube it you put the headset in wrong which is so easy if you don't know what you are doing or are using a hammer. King headsets are too expesive to use hammers on even if you do know what you're doing. You'd also be able to ensure that yours is a 1 1/8" as Cannondale used all three sizes back in the day and have continued to confuse everyone by using their own headshox size and 1 1/2" as well on the modern ones..

As suggested above, get down to your lbs and ask them to show you. It's only when you see the quality tools that they use and the time they take to do it that you'll think ' what was I thinking? !

Good luck and show us the result

correct, good advice

 

[robadub]

just out of interest what actually causes the frame to mess up when your fitting the aheadset ?

 

[john]

Spend a tenner and get your lbs to fit. Please.

Pretty sure most cannondales moved away from 1 1/4" my the mid 90s.

just out of interest what actually causes the frame to mess up when your fitting the aheadset ?

Headset cups are a tight interference fit. A specialist tool will ensure the cups are fitted straight. A hammer will not.

 

[giraffeinbath]

King produce their own adapter tool for fitting their headsets that pushes the headset in with the force on the cups rather then pressing on (and damaging) the bearing.

Most shops will have a headset press and be able to fit your headset for £10-£15, I would imagine that most may not have the King headset cup tool so I would check before you book it into the workshop, if they do then it's a fair bet that they'll know what they are doing.

The hammer and wood thing......ask yourself if you would be happy to watch someone else smash your headset into your frame with a hammer and a block of wood while holding it between their knees and theres your answer of whether it's a good idea or not

 

[robadub]

ok i'll get it fitted at dave mellor's i think

stupid question but is there a way i can find out if its 1 1/4 without measuring it myself ?

 

[giraffeinbath]

An 1 1/4 head tube is visibly larger then a 1 1/8th so it should be quite apparent if they are different by just looking at the two bikes side by side. Offer the 1/8th headset up against the Cannondale head tube and it should be obvious to see if they are different.

If you do have a 1/4" headset and you want to use an 1/8th headset and fork you can buy shims to reduce the internal headtube diameter so your not stuck with the 1/4" thing if that's a problem. As someone mentioned already though, I think Cannondale had done away with 1/4" headsets by the time your frame was produced so it shouldn't be an issue.

 

[robadub]

ok thanks for all the help