Resizing Headset

[Camaguey5]

Hi all,
*This is my first post so please bear with me*
I recently got into a nasty bike accident and managed to salvage just about everything except my frame, fork and cranks. I just bought a new (to me) bike off craigslist to put all my old components on. Sure enough the stem on my old bike is to big for the headset.

My question: is the headset diameter dependent on the frame or the fork? I would like to keep my old stem (or quill, not certain on the proper terminology). I can replace the fork but I'd like to keep the frame.

[Painkiller]

answer : Both, sort of
Pics would help. If you do have a quill type of stem you cannot use it. sounds as if you went from an 1 1/8 to a 1 in steer tube on your fork.
if you are threadless you could buy an adapter to step up your steer tube to fit

[Camaguey5]

Thanks Painkiller.
It's an older bike (late-80's) and yeah, after doing some research it is a quill stem. There's a little wedge inside. So I would need to find a fork with an 1 1/8" steer tube?

[Painkiller]

if your new frame is for a 1 in steer tube you cannot go with a fatter fork tube to be able to use your old stem. you must buy another stem. If you do not have a fork for your new frame you must buy the smaller fork to fit your frame and a stem

[nfmisso]

and you can get one of these to be able to use your handle bars:

http://www.amazon.com/Origin8-Threaded-Threadless-Quill-Adapter/dp/B0037N6PEC/

[ghost]

(11-10-2011, 09:52 AM)nfmisso Wrote:  and you can get one of these to be able to use your handle bars:

http://www.amazon.com/Origin8-Threaded-Threadless-Quill-Adapter/dp/B0037N6PEC/

Hi Nigel, I bought one of these for a project. They work very well but are not very long. I used it with an adjustable stem to gain correct h/bar height.Its a great idea and allowed me to finish the job.

[Camaguey5]

Thanks all. I'm going to stick with the current stem.

That adapter is neat, only wish I could use it..