Question about MTB headset bearings

[AC43]

Hi all,

My headset bearings have been clonking recently so I decided to replace them.

The Man on the Internet suggested one of these http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/cane-creek-40-s...

So I stripped dowm my bike (2013 Trek Cobia) and found that (a) it had ball races not catridges and (b) that I couldn't fit the cartridges as I could't remove the "cups" (think that's he word) for the ball races from the frame.

The good news is that I cleaned up the old set up and packed it with grease before carefully re-assembling it and the movement has gone - yey!

But before I send the Cane Creek back does anyone know if I should be able to remove the cups or not?

[WinstonWolf]

You should be able to, but if you didn't succeed you probably *shouldn't*

[Magic919]

They are usually pressed in and drifted out.

[snotrag]

they come out, but if you couldn't work out how then its probably not for you. Not expensive to get a bike shop to do with the correct tools (if you take it pre-stripped down)

[AC43]

WinstonWolf said:

You should be able to, but if you didn't succeed you probably *shouldn't*

LOL. Thanks. I could see that I was about to do damage if I'd continued......

Edited by AC43 on Monday 10th October 21:02

[AC43]

Magic919 said:

They are usually pressed in and drifted out.

Thanks, makes sense.

(and I don't have a drift)

[AC43]

snotrag said:

they come out, but if you couldn't work out how then its probably not for you. Not expensive to get a bike shop to do with the correct tools (if you take it pre-stripped down)

Thanks. Just looked up bearing drift tools and the Park Tools version is £33.

But a pair of ball races is peanuts.

And I suspect I may have actually introduced some play when I was mucking about with the stem spacers earlier this year.

Hopefully if sorted it. If not I'll go for some races.

Appreciate the help.