Tange 303 Vs Tange 320 Headset

[monkian]

OK here's the story: Almost 2 years ago I (along with a few others on here) bought what was advertised as an NOS Tange 320 Headset. Since then this has been sitting in a box along with the rest of the bits and pieces I've been collecting. Noticing the prices increase over time, along with the fact that I'm skint, I decided to put mine up for sale (today). As always, I try to research the items I put up for sale but as I was doing this I stumbled across this potentially disappointing piece of information.

Tange 303 (left) Vs Tange 320 (right):
The last shot is a complete 303 set.







Checking this info against mine, it looks like I've bought maybe part of a 320 but also part of a relabeled 303. I have the O-Ring on the bottom piece (bearings also look OK) but no octagon or O-Ring on the Crown / Nut. I questioned the issue with the missing O-Ring at the time but was reassured by the seller that only the bottom race was sealed. Looking closer at the box it came in, it has a reflective 320 sticker on which, when I peeled it back, revealed '303'. Anyway knowing this I've now pulled the sale.

If you've got one, it might be worth checking what you've got. 

[monkian]

Did Tange relabel 303 boxes?

[monkian]

If anyone has any supportive / conflicting information on this subject. It'd be useful to hear it

[monkian]

Here's a pic of mine. Can you tell anything from the decals?

[HUTCHMAN]

Glen,is the 320 sealed mech on your(now dont take this the wrong way) ...box printed on as opposed to a decal? just another spanner in the works.

[HUTCHMAN]

hmm,the plot thickens.

[monkian]

The guy who sold to me said in his post he bought in bulk from the US
The box relabel thing I could see as a factory thing but the Octagon (O-Ringed) Nut & Octagon Top Cup is the key.
We could do with a few more examples.

[brummie]

My NOS 320 has a single o ring only on the bottom and a hex 6 sided top cup and top nut. 

and mine, was used. 

[monkian]

What we've got is a 320 bottom and a 303 top labled as 320. 

So the differences are:
303: no seals, 6 sided hex cup and top nut
320: single sealed lower part, 8 sided octagon cup and top nut.

Plus 320 has the O-Ringed Octagon Top Nut (I guess, effectively sealing the top part)
(this all looks like the case if the information is correct in those images)

[brummie]

yep hex 6 sided top cup and top nut

[monkian]

Yeah, seems odd. It'd be useful anyway to know for sure what's what.
I asked the guy who had the original images on ebay to send me this.
It shows the parts for a 'Tange MX-303' with unsealed crown (bottom) race.

[HUTCHMAN]

despite all of the above,still a nice headset to own! nice one guys.

[HUTCHMAN]

TBH Glen,it wouldn't bother me either, but not taking anything away from Monkian for bring it up,good point of interest.

[monkian]

The issue I had was if I had sold it on saying it was something it's not.
With what I'd found out. I had to bring it up.
It's not about pointing fingers it's just about the knowledge

[HUTCHMAN]

The issue I had was if I had sold it on saying it was something it's not.
With what I'd found out. I had to bring it up.
It's not about pointing fingers it's just about the knowledge

Totally agree! Good on ya.

[monkian]

I just got in touch with a guy based in Canada who's selling one on eBay.
He said about his:

the head nut is 6 sided with no rubber o ring. the
320 on the box seems to be a silver decal stuck to
the box

...it has an o ring on the bottom and 303 printed in gold on the top of the box.

Cheers

[HUTCHMAN]

sounds like there are a lot of them out there. I could be going completely loopy,but do i remember the top cup on one of these headsets(not sure which model) having a groove machined out of the inside(at the bottom) to take a sealing o'ring,in the same fashion as for the lower cup?

[monkian]

That's a new one on me

I'm now thinking, if this is on a massive scale, a bulk purchase of 303's, a custom part with an o-ring (or even bulk purchase of that 320 part), a few decals and you've got a product potentially 3 times as valuable. Maybe it would be worth the hasstle Or potential factory error but wouldn't there be a recall / mass complaints etc? Or the info about the top section is wrong

[HUTCHMAN]

i'm probably thinking of some thing else,maybe a different model of Tange headset. God only knows what the deal is with the re labeling issue,perhaps a bunch of left overs at the Tange factory??

[daz bmx it!]

Taking into account all that has been said before?...I will give you £20 for it

[monkian]

Taking into account all that has been said before?...I will give you £20 for it

 

[cwbmx]

I would say Tange........... or is that Tioga repackaged as Tange?
Anyway.... they probably put together remaining parts they had, clearanced them out, and moved on to bigger, better things.

25 years ago. 

The Tange name isn't a sticker over 'Crocodile' brand, or is it? 

The comparison Tange pics you have, are from a seller on ebay, who was trying to drive up the price of his 303's .

Why would you need an 8 sided nut?
What good would the top nut O-ring do?  It doesn't seal off the bearing. Maybe Tange/Tioga saw it as a big waste.

It's a headset...... after all.

C-ya'

CW   

4253Calvinw ebay seller of old school BMX   

[monkian]

I would say Tange........... or is that Tioga repackaged as Tange?

No idea what you mean. As far as I'm aware we're looking at Tange products.

The Tange name isn't a sticker over 'Crocodile' brand, or is it?

Only sticker on the box is as shown in the pics.

The comparison Tange pics you have, are from a seller on ebay, who was trying to drive up the price of his 303's .

He was selling a 303 but took the time to point out the differences. That doesn't mean the info he provided is wrong.

Why would you need an 8 sided nut?
What good would the top nut O-ring do?  It doesn't seal off the bearing. Maybe Tange/Tioga saw it as a big waste.

It's a headset...... after all.

Again, no idea what you're saying here but thanks for sharing your thoughts  

[cwbmx]

I would say Tange........... or is that Tioga repackaged as Tange?

No idea what you mean. As far as I'm aware we're looking at Tange products.

You didn't say anything about them doing that, Why not?

The Tange name isn't a sticker over 'Crocodile' brand, or is it?

Only sticker on the box is as shown in the pics.

The comparison Tange pics you have, are from a seller on ebay, who was trying to drive up the price of his 303's .

He was selling a 303 but took the time to point out the differences. That doesn't mean the info he provided is wrong.
I can't tell your 1985 Tange catalog pictures do not show a 320 headset

Why would you need an 8 sided nut?
What good would the top nut O-ring do?  It doesn't seal off the bearing. Maybe Tange/Tioga saw it as a big waste.

It's a headset...... after all.

Again, no idea what you're saying here but thanks for sharing your thoughts  

My wrenches are 12 point and 6 point why would you need an 8 sided Octagan nut?? Not hard to understand the question is it.
An O-ring in the top nut for what? To keep the dirt and dust off of the titted washer? Again a simple question and IMO a waste of an O-ring.
 Sorry if you didn't understand the questions 

[monkian]

I think you've missed the point of what we're trying to do here. It's not about what's needed. We're just trying to work out what the facts are between the two different Tange sets and perhaps what / how we've got what we've got. Sorry I can't help you but you seem to be asking questions only Tange can answer. I have no idea why Tange made an 8 sided nut or put an o-ring on it