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Question on ovalized head tube?

crashwins

crashwins

Monkey
Nov 4, 2009
131
0
(wasn't sure where to post this)

Hi folks -- I'm thinking about buying a high-end DJ frame for a really good deal. I was about to pay quite a bit for it, but the owner when taking it apart realized slight ovalization of the lower bearing (it's an integrated head tube). He seems like a good guy and was candid about the fact that the head tube top bearing is tight, but the lower bearing can move front to back about a millimeter. One point is that he had no idea of this until he took it apart (probably from the pre-load of the headset keeping it together). He said the previous owner was a team member and probably ran it hard, but he didn't and wasn't aware of the problem. So, my question is: should I stay clear regardless of the great price or should I just use it since he says there's no play in it when he uses it; or could I have something done to the HT to correct it (short of replacing the whole thing)? Thanks for reading all that :)
 
eaterofdog

eaterofdog

ass grabber
Sep 8, 2006
8,294
1,541
Central Florida
Integrated uses two angled surfaces held together with tension, so when you crank everything down it holds it in place. You can **** them up by riding them loose though. Look at the bike assembled and grab the end of the fork and push and pull to check for play.
 
crashwins

crashwins

Monkey
Nov 4, 2009
131
0
Well that makes sense. I can't check it out as I don't have it yet. He says there's no play at all when it's in there now. It's a Tonic and I'm paying a good price for it bc of the headtube. I guess I'm wondering if it's a lemon or worth the trouble
 
S

Sonic Reducer

Monkey
Mar 19, 2006
500
0
seattle worshington
something that may help- I fixed a friend's clapped out main swingarm pivot where there was a good millimeter of slop in the aluminum to the cartridge bearing by epoxying the bearings in place to build the surface back. while the epoxy was workable i reassembled the frame for alignment purposes, then knocked out the old bearings once the epoxy had hardened and put good ones in. if you do good prep ie mild heat and strong solvent on the frame to get any hint of grease off the surface then some sort of release agent on the bearing say a light film of wax it could be an effective, durable fix. youd even have the ability to swap bearings. epoxy has very high compressive strength so it'd probably hold up well. a couple hours of your time vs. junking the framevs running it clapped out i know what i'd do.
 
jeepmauler

jeepmauler

Monkey
Mar 9, 2004
178
0
Lynnwood
skatetokil said:
Loctite also makes a product specifically for bearing seats. Might give that a try before you get into the epoxy.
Click to expand...
You are probably refering to Loctite "sleeve retainer". It does work pretty good for this type of thing. I have "fixed" some slightly ovalized head tubes,over the years, by bonding the lower cup in place with sleeve retainer....worth a try. I would point out that these were conventional press in cups and NOT integrated headsets.....FWIW.
 
w00dy

w00dy

In heaven there is no beer
Jun 18, 2004
3,417
51
that's why we drink it here
If the price is low enough, get it and shed it. I always have more fun on a bike if it's a little bit disposable. I can't ride a nice shiny bike to it's full potential without feeling bad.
 
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