Ultegra Headset Bearings- Serviceable?

[John Rinker]

Good evening.

Below is a photo of the headset bearings from the Shimano Ultegra (HP-6500) from the Toyo Atlantis frame (circa. 2005-ish) I now ride.

Do you know if these bearings are serviceable? I'm reluctant to pry anything open if this is not meant to happen.

Cheers, John

[Bill Lindsay]

Yes and no.  It's not meant to happen, but if you determine that it must happen, it can be done.  If you insist on prying it apart, and don't have a great approach, and remain determined to do it anyway, it's definitely possible to destroy stuff.  

to first order, move the bearing in your fingers, one ring rotating against the other.  If it feels smooth rather than rough, that's good.  If you feel viscosity rather than dryness, that's also good.  Don't try to take it apart.  If either of those things feels unacceptably bad to you, then maybe you want to take it apart.  If you think you want to take it apart because you think it's good preventative maintenance, or you think it must be in need of an overhaul, then don't bother.  That's my advice.  

I took apart a Deore LX model with similar architecture.  One of the bearing units was pretty rusty and I did pull it apart, cleaned things out, added new balls, and pressed it back together.  That's how I know it is possible.  If your bearings are as hosed as mine were, give it a go.  If you think they seem fine, they probably are.  

Bill Lindsay

El Cerrito, CA

[John Rinker]

Thanks, Bill! I always appreciate your thoughts on maintaining a nice bicycle. Yes, the headset is smooth and viscous, so there will be no need to pry it apart. I was hoping to clean and regrease the bearings as a matter of good maintenance, but it seems there's no need. Thanks Shimano!

Cheers, John

[Will Boericke]

The only sealed bearings I've used that are meant to be cleaned and regreased are Chris King.  You *can* do it to regular sealed bearings but I've never had much success.  They are meant to be replaced but last for a very long time.

Will

[John Rinker]

Thank you, Will. Yes, I've been servicing my Chris King hubs since I got them in the early '90s. The same bearings are still rolling like the day I got 'em. I've also regularly serviced my White Ind. bearings in an M15 rear hub. However, I did have to replace them once after about 8 years.

Cheers, John

[Russell Duncan]

John,

I experienced that bearing replacement problem with that Ultegra headset. I didn’t do my homework before I purchased it. I simply bought in because of its price. I replaced it with a simple, old school, Tange headset where I can easily find replacement bearings:

https://www.tangeseiki.com/jm/images/com_aedes/tangeseiki/tangeseiki-2011.pdf

For weather proofing, I then use Lizard Skins neoprene with Velcro headset wraps, which are easily installed and removed for cleaning: 

https://www.lizardskins.com/product-details?h=headset-seal-black&c=bike_protection&t=suspension_protector&v=0

I’ve been using them, both the headsets and wraps for decades. I also use Chris King headsets on two of my bicycles and I wrap them too. The wraps do wear out with exposure. You could make your own with a worn out inner tube, which requires headset and fork removal. That could be a good thing, because, it’s good to look inside the frame (under the hood) now and then. And, as you know, fenders will keep a lot of crap and moisture away from the headset.

Russell Duncan

Western Massachusetts