Another headset-related question

[sbornia]

Here's a hypothetical for you:

New frame, headtube was machined by competent bike shop. Frame owner installs headset himself, shop checks work and says everything looks good.

Frame owner, definitely neurotic and possibly insane, decides he wants to switch to a different headset. Fork is not yet cut, so no problems there. He also has the tools to remove the cups and fork race.

Question is, will the headtube need to be machined again? Or is likely still in clean enough shape that the new headset can be installed easily and properly? Frame owner has calipers and can measure internal diameter of HT and make sure it complies with new HS specs. Just not sure if there's anything else beyond that to consider.

Neurotically yours,
Steven

[David Kirk]

No.........absolutely not.

Take them in and out all you want it won't change a thing.

Install it and ride and smile.

Dave

[CNY rider]

Here's a hypothetical for you:

New frame, headtube was machined by competent bike shop. Frame owner installs headset himself, shop checks work and says everything looks good.

Frame owner, definitely neurotic and possibly insane, decides he wants to switch to a different headset. Fork is not yet cut, so no problems there. He also has the tools to remove the cups and fork race.

Question is, will the headtube need to be machined again? Or is likely still in clean enough shape that the new headset can be installed easily and properly? Frame owner has calipers and can measure internal diameter of HT and make sure it complies with new HS specs. Just not sure if there's anything else beyond that to consider.

Neurotically yours,
Steven

I don't think there's a headset out there that's so horrible that I would pull a perfectly good, essentially new one off. Just go ride with it. It will probably be fine, and you can save your other one as backup. Or if you really do hate it down the road, you can switch then.

[stevep]

Frame owner, definitely neurotic and possibly insane, decides he wants to switch to a different headset. Fork is not yet cut, so no problems there. He also has the tools to remove the cups and fork race.
Neurotically yours,
Steven

for perfect installation you should travel to egypt and install it in the headset room which is in the great pyramid..otherwise it may not be smooth.
this also can be accomplished in zero gravity on the moon but this is pretty expensive and is not considered necessary.

you are too neurotic. let it go.

[Peter P.]

You really don't want to machine the inside of your headtube multiple times if you can avoid it. Even though the cutters are manufactured to tight tolerances, repeated cutting can possibly develop into a loose fitting headtube, because the greatest variable will be the different individuals performing the operation.

Unless you suspect something is wrong, leave it alone.