Hello. As per the title, I’ve installed a Tange Seiki headset onto my old Kona frame, along with a new Surly fork. Everything is aligned and seated correctly, all at correct torque, and the fork/bars spin freely no problem.
However there is still this slight gap between the fork crown race and headset cup/bottom bearing cover.
Is this a problem or should it settle once weight is on the fork? If it doesn’t budge is there any issue with dirt/water ingress here or should the grease and bearing cover prevent that? I can still rotate the spacers and top headset cap, although not lift them up or down, just spin.
Thanks in advance for any assistance!
by CaledoniaSun
11 Comments
I’m not familiar with these exact parts but it doesn’t look right to me. Did you preload the stem? Not preloading is a common cause of this as there’s no force to push all the headset components together
https://preview.redd.it/yupt74rqqqvf1.jpeg?width=1125&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=37128751dd60da9c0ec6927efe52c68a89a55764
This is a good way to address your issue. Comes in multiple colors.
Lots of cyclists that ride in the southwest desert area use this to keep playa sand (alkaline dust) out of the headset, even when they already have seals on their headset.
But really, it’s good for just keeping normal crap out of your bearings.
Did you install a new crown race as well? Kinda looks like the lower bearing isn’t able to seat properly with the crown race. Also what model of Surly fork is that? Some Surly forks have an integrated crown race.
Just to clarify, is the crown race the one that came with the headset?
The headtube Grafiks are insane! Bonkers!
Did the lower bearing sit any different on the crown race when not installed on the fork?
Is the crown race on the right way?
Likely missing a dust seal but the gap is fine. Not having the dust seal isn’t a big deal either. Just keep the bearings well greased and you shouldn’t have an issue with water or dirt intrusion
Is there any chance that the lower and upper cartridge bearings have a different inner bevel angle and you’ve mixed them up? Or a seal is inverted/in the wrong place on the crown race?
Is it a headset with sealed cartridge bearings?
The angle of the race has to match the inner race of the bearing.
This doesn’t look right.
Looks like it’s the crown race is for oldschool headset, not cartridge bearings.
So the crown race is the inner race of the headset.
Caged bearings, right? Any chance you put them in upside down?