Re: [CR]Any hope for a pitted Specialissima headset?

(Example: Framebuilders:Rene Herse)

Date: Mon, 03 Sep 2001 23:42:02 -0700
From: "Chuck Schmidt" <chuckschmidt@earthlink.net>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: Re: [CR]Any hope for a pitted Specialissima headset?
References: <C102531FB711D411B5B90060B0A4687605E6CA@MAIL>


Mark Bulgier wrote:
>
> First, I assume there are no replacements still in existence for the special
> Campy headset in the '60s Bianchi Specialissima - right?
>
> Anyone had any success regrinding, or in any way making the races smooth
> again after they're pitted? Or maybe the races are only case hardened and
> can't be reground without going into the soft metal below? I expect there
> are lots of machinists who could do it, but if I go that route I'd prefer
> someone with a track record - someone who's done it before.
>
> Grateful for any help or advice,
>
> Mark Bulgier
> Seattle, Wa
> USA

Over the years I have heard of caches of nos headset races and newly ground reproduction races for the integral Bianchi head lugs/head races, but I have never found any.

My solution was to swap the lower race for the upper race and vice versa. Not a great solution, but it worked. Might work in your case?

Chuck Schmidt
South Pasadena, Southern California