Aluminium headtube rust and corrosion

I recently purchased a Boardman Pro alu/carbon frame c. 2008 from eBay. Unfortunately, the bottom integrated headset bearings were rusted into the frame. I got them out fairly easily with a cup removal tool and degreased but there's still a fair bit of rust in there. On closer inspection, I also noticed some corrosion around the lip of the headtube too - see photo.

I wondered if anyone had encoutered and/or fixed a similar issue? I was thinking I could remove the rust with some very fine wire wool but wasn't sure what, if anything, I could do about the pitted and worn area?

Thanks

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All you need is for the integrated bearing surface not to have raised edges that would set the cartridge out of alignment. Ideally also remove any existing rust without changing the surface too much.

Wire wool away the rust, don’t worry about the pits, use fine sand paper on that gouge on the left if it has raised edges. Test to see if a dry cartridge fits in properly, and if it does then reinstall with a healthy amount of grease.

As mentioned, that is just a steel holder for the cartridge bearing. As leshaches said wire wool, and should be fine with the bearing in.

If worried, replace.

Thank you for the advice. I have removed the rust and the new cartridge bearing seems to fit ok.

One other thing I was concerned about is further corrosion - but as long as the cartridge and bearing surface are well greased as suggested and kept fairly dry, am I right in thinking this should prevent it getting worse?

(I'm assuming the initial damage was galvanic corrosion as there was a fair bit of rusty liquid in there.)

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Looks good. Should be ok if kept greased and dry. If there’s rust in the tube you can remove it with a ball of alu foil held with a wire (clothes hangers are perfect) and spun with a drill. Add a bit of wd40 if you can and have at it.

Won't be rust as such in the headtube it self, should just come off with a cloth and a bit of white vinegar

Thanks