As far as the Shimano being a custom ,one-of design, I cannot say , but it would be worth it to check any markings on it and look it up from a place that offers angular contact bearings.
Cartdrige bearing headsets use what is called "angular contact" cartridges . These are are designed for vertical loads, as opposed to regular cartridges(like for hubs) that are not. http://www.pinkbike.com/news/To-the-Point-Cartridge-Bearings-2013.html If you have a bearing number, look it up :) http://www.skf.com/group/products/bearings-units-housings/ball-bearings/angular-contact-ball-bearings/single-row/index.html On Friday, July 25, 2014 4:28:43 PM UTC-4, EricK wrote: > > > Now I'm thinking about headsets...again...prematurely, most assuredly. > > I like my Ultegra headset very much. It does a simple job without > complaint, and it's quite good-looking. (I wonder if that's ever been said > of me.) The issue, should it ever become one, is the cartridge bearings. > No replacements available. When the bearing is done, so too is the > headset. > > I've heard different descriptions of the HP6500 bearing. One suggests > that it is a cartridge bearing; another suggests that it is actually not. > Some say you can't do anything to maintain the bearings. Others say that > you can gently pry the "plastic" top from its base and service it. > > My Ultegra headset is on a fair weather bike, not because I don't like to > ride in the rain, but because 3" of annual (desert) rainfall leaves few > opportunities. Is water a headset's primary nemesis? Or is it the regular > bumps that batter and doom a headset? > > Am I neglecting my maintenance by not disassembling the headset and giving > those bearings some affection? What have others done to extend the life of > their Ultegra headsets? Maybe rotate the bearing between their top and > bottom locations to spread the wear? > > Though I've not used a needle bearing threadless headset, I think I can > appreciate the design of the NeedL BlastR. If it's Riv-approved, it's > probably pretty good...at very least. Just not sure about the aesthetics > of the zinc-chrome plating. I know, it's just a headset,...but it's right > under your nose! > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
