My coworker keeps telling me I need a headset spacer. Maybe I’m confused but isn’t that what the three gold rings are in the middle?
by shardint
My coworker keeps telling me I need a headset spacer. Maybe I’m confused but isn’t that what the three gold rings are in the middle?
by shardint
8 Comments
[deleted]
It does look like a “fancy” spacer to me. Maybe anodized Ti or aluminum, but it doesn’t look like steel steerer threads. Nice bike btw, I always loved the color of the Trek 560 from that year.
Those are the exposed threads that the headset threads onto.
Note: the headset spacer you’re looking for may also be described as a keyed washer, a washer with prong pointing onward to align with a slot running the length of the threads of the fork.
I don’t know if all threaded forks use keyed washers, but just a warning that most of what you’ll see sold as headset spacers are for threadless forks, which would not work as well for your case.
I think you’re good, dude. They don’t look like threads to me.
They must be actual hardware washers, like bolt washers, because your threaded steerer isn’t brass…it’s steel. Since you have play in the headset I’d say get them replaced with an actual spacer and get it tight as it should be. Ask me how I know…
https://preview.redd.it/0xgkrkdqccaf1.jpeg?width=3120&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a957f065dbe31d2956f2f7f9877530190d3d681d
They must be actual hardware washers, like bolt washers, because your threaded steerer isn’t brass…it’s steel. Since you have play in the headset I’d say get them replaced with an actual spacer and get it tight as it should be. Ask me how I know…
https://preview.redd.it/u092u0m4dcaf1.jpeg?width=3120&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a12f24202b3b2a3a1fa39f298887b758c3141a04
Those 3 gold rings are the threads that your cup and Lockring are threaded into. The fact that you can see the threads means the cup and Lockring aren’t locked together like they’re supposed to. If the Lockring is bottomed out so they can’t be locked together, then you need a spacer
I’m more concerned with how high your stem is. Is that black smudge on it concealing the minimum insertion mark? It’s hard to tell in the picture. If so, you need to lower it. If the mark is already below the headset, you’re good.