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I've no idea what the fraction is referring too and Sheldon hasn't helped...
The fraction is the ball diameter in inches. As @user47620 says, you can use a greater number of loose balls rather than a caged set, in fact for a headset which just reciprocates rather than rotating at high speed, loose balls are actually better, manufacturers just use cages to make assembly easier. To get the correct number of balls, just fill up the cup with balls until you can't get any more in, then remove one. Use a light coating of grease to get the balls to stick in the cups in the right place, i.e. all of them actually touching the race rather than just swimming in grease, and pipe a nice bead of extra grease onto the cones when it comes to final assembly.
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gbj_tester
Scrabble
Evening all. I've got a mild headset dilemma...
The diy cargo frankenbike needed the front headset servicing and the bottom bearing cage had disintegrated. I bought what looked right, 5/32 bearing cages, however on fitting it has come up to small and allows play in the fork. I've looked online and it looks like a 3/16 might do the trick. Is this another size for 1 inch threaded headsets? I've no idea what the fraction is referring too and Sheldon hasn't helped...