Well maybe some HS's and BB's have unique size balls, but for those using common sizes, I never reuse loose ball bearing. Even if they look fine, I discard them and replace with highest quality new bearings. I think most of us don't overhaul bearings as often as we probably should, and even best quality bearings are cheap enough that if I am going to spend the time to do an overhaul, I'm going to use new bearings.
But if you are going to capture the old balls, the old Rivendell rare earth magnets will certainly suck them up.
Regards,
Jerry Moos
Big Spring, Texas, USA
> From: crumpy6204@aol.com <crumpy6204@aol.com>
\r?\n> Subject: [CR] Loosing your balls!
\r?\n> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
\r?\n> Date: Wednesday, March 4, 2009, 12:32 PM
\r?\n> I acquired a 1950s?Holland frame,that I have been trying to
\r?\n> find for many years,(sentimental reasons), from a fellow
\r?\n> member, THANKS JOHN!? As?I always do, I?repacked the bottom
\r?\n> bracket and the head set, NOW the headset was dry looked
\r?\n> like the original grease! John (Sorry John)?said he was
\r?\n> afraid of loosing the balls if he tried to repack himself. I
\r?\n> would like to pass on a tip (YES I KNOW YOU KNEW THIS
\r?\n> ALREADY)? Get a MAGNET! loosen the top lock nut, lift the
\r?\n> head tube up to expose the bottom race, USE A BLOODY MAGNET
\r?\n> to attached the balls to. NOW if it already had grease use
\r?\n> you finger to pull the balls out. Do the same with the top
\r?\n> race, NO loss of balls!? Cheers John Crump
\r?\n> OldgoingbacktosleepBrit. Parker Co USA