Bearing Cups

[Road Master]

When I first started parting bikes out I left the cups on the frame. But I noticed that not all bearings and cups are interchangeable. There sometimes seems to be slight variations so they don't seat exactly the way you'd think. Is this my imagination? I'm not talking about anything Schwinn just in case that comes up. Now when I part bikes out I include the cups with the crankset or headset but I notice a lot of people still leave them on the frame. By definition are the cups considered part of the crankset/headset? I've also asked sellers about the missing cups when I make this kind of purchase and a lot of them say they are difficult to get out of the frame. I use an old piece of rebar to bang them out with no damage. Anybody have some other suggestions? Thanks for the input.

 

[vibr8shun]

Nope its not your imagination...I've noticed the same thing too. Tried to swap out american bearing cups for another, and its either too loose or too tight :roll:

 

[Bendix]

When I first started parting bikes out I left the cups on the frame. But I noticed that not all bearings and cups are interchangeable. There sometimes seems to be slight variations so they don't seat exactly the way you'd think. Is this my imagination? I'm not talking about anything Schwinn just in case that comes up. Now when I part bikes out I include the cups with the crankset or headset but I notice a lot of people still leave them on the frame. By definition are the cups considered part of the crankset/headset? I've also asked sellers about the missing cups when I make this kind of purchase and a lot of them say they are difficult to get out of the frame. I use an old piece of rebar to bang them out with no damage. Anybody have some other suggestions? Thanks for the input.

there are 4 commonly encountered head cup/headtube diameters just on 1" forks. generally the smallest is what most folks with a 80's/90's bike shop quality bike consider the 'normal' diameter, then there is the JIS diameter which is ever so slightly larger and can be shimmed with the thinnest of stock, you then move up to the 'schwinn' size- which isn't actually uncommon- it's the same as old school bmx, and finally the largest diameter on account of the thinnest headtube material, and the one that causes the most confusion on rrb- these use the wald headset. instead of using an actual measurement wald euphemistically labels this as "fits most american bikes". other than the JIS, inexpensive complete headsets are readily available.

and yes the cups should be considered part of the headset, not of the frame....

 

[Road Master]

Thanks for the input guys - it's nice to know I'm not completely out of my mind yet. I try to read as much as I can on this site for info like this but I don't remember reading about the different sizes before. And I definitely had no idea there were that many different combinations. When I keep bearings and cups off a part out bike now I zip tie them all together so they stay with the correct partner. Thanks again.

 

[Uncle Stretch]

I don't sell too many frames , but pick up a bunch of junk bikes. I take everything I can off of them. I build my own necks, and have found one size (forget which) will fit a piece of 1 1/2 '' 14 gauge tubing perfect. I have a big box with a gazillion of them in it. I have found all the crank races to be the same size though. Some are a little deeper sometimes, like a Columbia. You know what they say waste not want not. :lol: If your going to keep the headbadge , then you might as well take all the races. It gives the next guy something to do. :roll:

 

[vibr8shun]

Cool... thanks for the info, I just thought that it was just poor manufacturing inconsistencies. never too old to learn :mrgreen:

 

[outskirtscustoms]

Normally when I sell something like that I ask the buyer if they need the cups and bearings and include it with the frame or crank whatever sells first. I part out so many Wal-mart Huffys and other junkers that I have cups and bearings galore. Also sometimes neck bearings are different sizes too. I just always throw cups and bearings in a big bucket when I strip bikes out and use them as needed. Sometimes when my bucket runs low I'll just buy a few junk bikes from the scrapyard and pull the bearings, cups, and a few bolts off of it and take the rest back the next morning and get another load of them.