gitaneusa.com Forum Index » Vintage Gitane » Neck bearings    View previous topic :: View next topic  Neck bearings   Posted: Wed Jun 02, 2010 4:32 pm Greenmachine Joined: 24 May 2010 Posts: 13 Location: Southern Cali So....... The neck bearings on my bike were crunchy and seemed like they need to be greased.I loosened the neck and all the bearings went all over the ground.... Im not sure if i got all them... dose anyone know the count and should i just upgrade to newer neck bearings?? Also there was almost no grease in the bearing cups... What a bummer!! Neck = Headset   Posted: Wed Jun 02, 2010 9:39 pm verktyg Joined: 14 Jan 2007 Posts: 2814 Location: SF Bay Area Chickens have necks, bikes have headsets. What model Gitane do you have and what make of headset? It's usually 25 or 26 5/32" balls on the top and bottom. It could also take 22 each 3/16" ball on each end. Don't worry about the old balls. Get some new ones at a bike shop - get extras because gravity sucks! Loose ball work better than the ones held in place in a cage. Throughly clean all of the headset parts to remove the old grease and dirt. When everything is clean and you are ready to reassemble use some heavy duty wheel bearing grease. Sticky grease holds the loose balls in place. If you see indentations in the crown race - the bearing race on top of the fork crown and the bottom headset cup consider finding a replacement headset. If you find that you need to replace those parts get back with us. _________________ Chas. SF Bay Area, CA USA ============== 1984 Criterium 1969 TdF 1971 TdF 1974 TdF 1984 TdF x 2 Bikes 1970 SC 1971 SC 1972 SC 1984 SC 1984 Team Pro 1985 Professional 1990s Team Replica   Posted: Wed Jun 02, 2010 10:37 pm Greenmachine Joined: 24 May 2010 Posts: 13 Location: Southern Cali Ok...lol. thanks. Im new to the whole road bike thing.I found a local bike shop that sells them.Whats a good grease? I have some synthetic wheel bearing grease, or should i buy some from the bike shop? I wonder if i should check all the rest of the bearings in the bike. Are the wheel bearings not caged too? The guy at the bike shop said the crank bearings are'nt caged either.Thanks for all your help. Bearing here, bearing there, every where a ball bearing!   Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2010 3:47 am verktyg Joined: 14 Jan 2007 Posts: 2814 Location: SF Bay Area Headset and bottom bracket bearings are frequently caged for ease and speed of assembly at the factory and also some bike shops use them too. Wheel bearings are almost always loose. BTW, the bottom bracket or BB is the axle assembly that the cranks are attached to. Something that I'd recommend to anyone getting started fixing their own bike is to get a good book about it. I can't think of any current books but someone else can probably chime in. If you have "CLEAN" automotive wheel bearing grease that should work fine. Sometimes the stuff gets contaminated so check it out before using on your bike. _________________ Chas. SF Bay Area, CA USA ============== 1984 Criterium 1969 TdF 1971 TdF 1974 TdF 1984 TdF x 2 Bikes 1970 SC 1971 SC 1972 SC 1984 SC 1984 Team Pro 1985 Professional 1990s Team Replica   Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2010 4:38 am Gtane Joined: 14 Sep 2007 Posts: 681 Location: UK Richard Ballantine's book, Richard's Bicycle Book could be a start. A complement of an earlier edition (early '80s) with the current 21st Century edition might be an idea. 'Richard's Bicycle Book' (editions pre year c1983). 'Richard's New Bicycle Book' was between the above and the below. 'Richard's 21st Century Bicycle Book' (post year c2000) I grew up on a 1970's copy and have always found it to be excellent, giving a broad base of knowledge and understanding. Good luck with the work. Tim _________________ Everything has a cycle   Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2010 7:16 pm Greenmachine Joined: 24 May 2010 Posts: 13 Location: Southern Cali Pick up some bearings today... new grease, just like a new bike...Now for the crank bearings. Pulling Crank Arms   Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2010 10:29 pm verktyg Joined: 14 Jan 2007 Posts: 2814 Location: SF Bay Area Greenmachine wrote: Pick up some bearings today... new grease, just like a new bike...Now for the crank bearings. Do you have the tools for pulling the crank arms? Aluminum cotterless crank arms take special pullers to remove them. Your bike has Stronglight Model 93 crank arms that take a special size puller for 23.35mm threads. No other make will work! _________________ Chas. SF Bay Area, CA USA ============== 1984 Criterium 1969 TdF 1971 TdF 1974 TdF 1984 TdF x 2 Bikes 1970 SC 1971 SC 1972 SC 1984 SC 1984 Team Pro 1985 Professional 1990s Team Replica   Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2010 4:23 am sandranian Site Admin Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 2701 Location: Southern California Ah the French and their silly off-industry standard sizes!!! _________________ Stephan Andranian Costa Mesa, CA www.gitaneusa.com   Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2010 9:36 am Greenmachine Joined: 24 May 2010 Posts: 13 Location: Southern Cali I have a blow torch and a hammer.... Silly is as silly does....   Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2010 9:43 am verktyg Joined: 14 Jan 2007 Posts: 2814 Location: SF Bay Area sandranian wrote: Ah the French and their silly off-industry standard sizes!!! "You don't frighten us, English pig-dogs! Go and boil your bottoms, sons of a silly person." _________________ Chas. SF Bay Area, CA USA ============== 1984 Criterium 1969 TdF 1971 TdF 1974 TdF 1984 TdF x 2 Bikes 1970 SC 1971 SC 1972 SC 1984 SC 1984 Team Pro 1985 Professional 1990s Team Replica   Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2010 3:55 pm Wisey Joined: 19 May 2009 Posts: 631 Location: Brisbane, Australia Ni! _________________ Kind Regards, Wisey Delta Dreamin' Neck bearings     gitaneusa.com Forum Index » Vintage Gitane You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum All times are GMT - 8 Hours   Page 1 of 1   All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First  Select a forum Gitane USA----------------Vintage GitaneGitane RacingModern GitanePro Racing - Classics/Giro/Tour....Owner Gallery   Powered by phpBB © 2001-2004 phpBB Group Designed for Trushkin.net | Themes Database.