What's the wisdom on greasing newer headset fittings?
I pulled apart a mate's fairly high end road bike to rectify a creaking headset after a rain ride... Alu frame, Ritchey Scuzzy Pro [non integrated] headset, and not a sign of grease on the cups or fittings, though the bearing units themselves seemed good and not binding. Bike is less than 9 months old, so I'd have expected to see at least residual grease in there, even if had all been washed out (!!!) Back when headsets came with caged balls we lubed everything, so am I now second-guessing and wondering if there's a good good reason not to grease with newer systems, or is this sloppy assembly at the shop end? To reiterate, I'm talking about the cups and races the sealed bearing units sit within. TIA
alex-<< Alu frame, Ritchey Scuzzy Pro [non integrated] headset, and not a sign of grease on the cups or fittings, though the bearing units themselves seemed good and not binding. >><BR><BR> << so am I now second-guessing and wondering if there's a good good reason not to grease with newer systems, or is this sloppy assembly at the shop end?
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Number 2...we see lots of bikes assembled dry, dry, that often leads to noises or worse..
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What's the wisdom on greasing newer headset fittings?
An unlubed bearing will fail long before a properly lubed one. The lube also serves to protect against corrosion. I suspect that this was just hurry-up assembly or perhaps "let the new guy do it" quality of work. Grease them and be glad that the deficiency was found in time.
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Quoted message said:
What's the wisdom on greasing newer headset fittings?
I pulled apart a mate's fairly high end road bike to rectify a creaking headset after a rain ride... Alu frame, Ritchey Scuzzy Pro [non integrated] headset, and not a sign of grease on the cups or fittings, though the bearing units themselves seemed good and not binding. Bike is less than 9 months old, so I'd have expected to see at least residual grease in there, even if had all been washed out (!!!) Back when headsets came with caged balls we lubed everything, so am I now second-guessing and wondering if there's a good good reason not to grease with newer systems, or is this sloppy assembly at the shop end? To reiterate, I'm talking about the cups and races the sealed bearing units sit within. TIA
According to my information the Scuzzy Logic is a cartridge bearing headset. Think of a Chris King or other cart. bearing hs and think about how much grease you see when you open them.
Anyway, I always pack a little extra grease on top of them. It surely doesn't hurt.
thanks all, I suspect the "let the new guy assemble it" approach.... Robin, yes it is a cartridge bearing system, and yes, I've greased it up and rechecked the torquing.
