• Put the fork in with a stem on it so you can preload the bearings. Now use a drill with an allen bit in the preload bolt to spin the fork until all that crud is broken up.

  • Now that seems like a real task, as I would have to strip down the forks. Tried white spirit and automotive tar remover to remove the gunk in the races. In the end, sodium hydroxide oven cleaner on a cloth for 30 odd minutes removed all the black gunk. The caged ball bearings are shiny but the cages are full of gunk.

    @Netakure agreed with your diagnosis, the current headset is an aheadset brand headset and you can buy individual parts so the bottom cup and fork crown are purchasable for less than a tenner. So doubt the quality is high.

    But cleaning the races up I can't see, with a loupe or feel with a fingernail any marks.

    What is most annoying is that I bought 2 of these type of headsets (xlc brand) from Halfords and I can't find them.

    As I need to fix this bike, as all my others need work too. I'm going to replace the caged ball bearings for loose. Then fill with either Lucas green grease or ront brand blue marine grease.

    EDIT Went to mercury bearings in Enfield and even tho they stock the ball bearings they have no idea of grade, and looking at over £10 for 100

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