So lets say I fill the cup all the way around with bearings, then how many do I remove before putting the cone on?
none of this is going to help you so many bad questions missing info conundrums canards shibboleths
Never use old bearings with new ones. The old ones are worn and no longer the same size as the new ones. If properly installed, bearing retainers should never be damaged in a bottom bracket. I have a Campagnolo bottom bracket on one of my bikes. The bearing retainers in that bottom bracket are the ones that came with it when I bought it in 1973. I have changed the ball bearings several times but I kept the bearing retainers. If your bearing retainers are being damaged it is because of improper installation or other damage. Since you also had trouble with damaged bearing retainers in your headset, I vote for improper installation
