I removed a Stronglight Delta (A9 w/seals) from a tandem on which someone had mixed up the races and installed them wrong. Then they rode it that way long enough to damage the fork steerer.
After re-orienting the parts, I installed the HS on a beater bike, where it is about as smooth as new.
Jeff Slotkin, usually at The Bicycle Shoppe, Charleston, SC
On Apr 15, 2010, at 5:36 PM, John Thompson wrote:
> Andrew R Stewart wrote:
>
>> I always have thought that a problem with the Strongelight roller
>> headsets was the need to clean them out all the time so you could add
>> more grease. They used a thick plastic roller carrier ring.
>
> FWIW, I did an experiment with a Stronglight A9 roller bearing headset.
> I installed a new A9 on my commuter bike in 1987 and did *NO*
> maintenance on it for 20 years. Nothing at all. I just installed it,
> adjusted it, and rode it for 20 years. In 2007 I opened it up to take a
> look. Here's what I found:
>
> http://www.os2.dhs.org/
>
> There's a trace of fretting damage on the lower races, but nothing
> noticable on the upper races. I swapped upper and lower races, repacked
> it in fresh grease, adjusted it (still smooth as ever), and will check
> again in 2027. :)
>
> --
>
> -John Thompson (john@os2.dhs.org)
> Appleton WI USA