I was just strip down an old bike that I had with a campagnolo headset and I was surprise that bearings where totally free in it as in pictures. Is that normal ??? Thanks.
by Kinreu
I was just strip down an old bike that I had with a campagnolo headset and I was surprise that bearings where totally free in it as in pictures. Is that normal ??? Thanks.
by Kinreu
7 Comments
I’m looking forward to the answers here.
Yeh, but you’re missing a few.
I wouldn’t have thought that generation of Campy headset would have loose bearings, but there’s no reason you couldn’t. My guess is they are replacement bearings. Nothing wrong with that.
These appear to be replacement bearings. It likely came with a bearing cage or plastic insert of some kind
What someone else did( and what you should do) is replace these bearings and re-install them with lots of grease.
Lots of people run loose bearings by choice since you can fit more bearings in, and spread the load over more points. It can also be a little easier to clean them thoroughly.
Bearings are very cheap and I put in new ones each refresh.
I have a Campagnolo headset from 1981 or 82, has caged bearings. I also have an old copy of a Sutherland mechanics reference book from that time, info on just about every component in use at that time. 5/32 comes to mind, I can check it tomorrow and confirm.
It’s totally normal for people to replace caged bearings with loose, applies to old bottom brackets as well.