Tom; Sure sounds like an intergrated headset to me. I've a few on early Pre-war Hetchins. The bottom race fits onto the steering tube above the fork crown as usual in a snug tight fit. The race that goes into the top of the head tube is a loose fit, and is just inserted into place, and held there when the entire assembly is together. Did your frame come with a more modern headset or older headclip. As for tightening, I'm not an expert or trained mechanic, but I tighten the headset until it feels a bit snug, and then back off a bit until the headset feels like the bearings are riding in place smoothly, but not overly tight or with too much play. I just do that by feel.
Peter Naiman
Shorewood, WI
> I am not sure whether I am using the proper
> terminology in this question and
> therefore am not certain that it will be posed in
> such a way that it becomes
> understandable.
>
> I received a frame and fork yesterday. The headtube
> at the top and bottom
> are slightly flared or expanded out to accept
> bearing races similar, if not
> exactly the same, to what goes on the top of the
> fork crown. These parts
> were provided by the seller. My question involves
> the fit of these races
> onto and into the headtube: how snug are they to be?
> Are they to be similar
> in fit to the fork crown race, and therefore require
> some force, or are they
> to be loose enough to be inserted and removed by
> hand? And one related
> question: how does the bottom part inserted into the
> headtube move smoothly,
> if you are simply running two races with bearings
> between each other? I
> don't want to set it up with all the ball bearings
> only to find that I have
> mucked it up.
>
> And one final question, is this a form of an
> integrated headset?
>
> Thank you.
>
> Cheers.
>
> Tom Hayes
> Chagrin Falls, Ohio
>
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Peter Naiman 4420 North Ardmore Avenue Shorewood, WI 53211
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