Crown race question

[Reaper]

Stereo hybrid 160. I took my fork off to clean things up and there is no crown race on it. Is this normal? It has the 56mm bearing just sitting on the steer tube and another up top with a steel reducer. Everything seems to work fine so just wondering.

 

[MrPeaski]

Pretty sure it would have a crown race somewhere.
Could either be the same colour as the fork crown so it looks like its 'built in', or it has come off and is sitting inside the lower bearing.

Can you post a couple of pictures?

 

[Reaper]

Pretty sure it would have a crown race somewhere.
Could either be the same colour as the fork crown so it looks like its 'built in', or it has come off and is sitting inside the lower bearing.

Can you post a couple of pictures?

Thanks for the reply, there is definitely not a crown race anywhere to be found. Just wondering if some bike builders do this or did someone forget to throw one on?
Pretty sure I could add one easy enough.

 

[MrPeaski]

Not disputing what you are saying but, I've not seen any mountain bike fork that hasn't needed a crown race fitted.

To my knowledge, if there isn't a crown race, the lower headset bearing would run on the fork crown itself, which you would definitely feel as looseness or it would bind on the crown making steering stiff if not almost impossible to turn.

If you could post a picture it would help (in my mind at least) confirm your setup

 

[Reaper]

In this shot you see the bearing on the steer tube with a tiny gap where I thought a crown race should be..what do you think?

 

[Reaper]

In this shot you see the bearing on the steer tube with a tiny gap where I thought a crown race should be..what do you think? View attachment 59332 View attachment 59332 View attachment 59332 View attachment 59333 View attachment 59334 View attachment 59335 View attachment 59336 View attachment 59337 View attachment 59332 View attachment 59333 View attachment 59334 View attachment 59335 View attachment 59336 View attachment 59337

Sorry about the overload of pics. Just learning how to do this forum thing

 

[RickBullotta]

In this shot you see the bearing on the steer tube with a tiny gap where I thought a crown race should be..what do you think?

There's a crown race on there.

 

[MrPeaski]

As I suspected, there is a crown race, it just happens to be the same colour as the fork crown.
I've taken one of your pictures and highlighted it.

To remove it (if you ever need to) you can get a crown race removal tool, But I used a wide wood chisel and used it like this.
Put the chisel bevelled edge up in the gap between the crown race and the fork crown, gently tap the chisel front/back, left/right until it starts to lift, then turn the chisel over (bevelled edge down) and use it to lever the crown race up, again front/back, left/right.

As far as I'm aware RockShox forks have a little cutout where you can get a flat screwdriver in to start the crown race lifting.

 

[Reaper]

Wow ! thanks. The look bigger in pictures
this rookie is learning new crap ever day!

 

[RickBullotta]

There are such things as integrated crown races still out there, mostly on rigid forks, and mostly on carbon stuff. The term "race" is actually a throwback to when there were loose ball or caged ball bearings that sat on the race. With modern sealed bearing systems, it really isn't a "bearing race" per se - just a place where the lower bearing sits securely. The actual race is inside the sealed bearing.

 

[MrPeaski]

The sealing on these headsets is poor, so expect the bearings to go poop. Before reassembly, give the crown race, bearing and bearing cup a wipe clean and put some grease on the same. Wipe off the excess after putting back together.

An decent replacement can be had from superstar components here

UK Made Headset - Complete - Superstar Components

UK Made Headset - Complete

www.superstarcomponents.com

Top set Type 5, Bottom set type E

There is a thread here Stereo hybrid 160 replacement headset - EMTB Forums

 

[Reaper]

The sealing on these headsets is poor, so expect the bearings to go poop. Before reassembly, give the crown race, bearing and bearing cup a wipe clean and put some grease on the same. Wipe off the excess after putting back together.

An decent replacement can be had from superstar components here

UK Made Headset - Complete - Superstar Components

UK Made Headset - Complete

www.superstarcomponents.com

Top set Type 5, Bottom set type E

There is a thread here Stereo hybrid 160 replacement headset - EMTB Forums

Sweet ! thanks
not sure we can get the superstar stuff shipped to Canada but I’ll try

 

[MrPeaski]

Probably cost more in shipping than the headset

Cane Creek 40 series is an alternative but expensive. See my post #30 (page1) for the correct links to see if your LBS can get hold of one if you decide to change.

 

[Reaper]

Probably cost more in shipping than the headset

Cane Creek 40 series is an alternative but expensive. See my post #30 (page1) for the correct links to see if your LBS can get hold of one if you decide to change.

Yeah, we can get that here. Think I’ll do it when I service the forks. Thanks for all your help. Just checked and superstar isn’t shipping to North America at all right now

 

[Reaper]

Probably cost more in shipping than the headset

Cane Creek 40 series is an alternative but expensive. See my post #30 (page1) for the correct links to see if your LBS can get hold of one if you decide to change.

Probably another rookie question, but shouldn’t the bearing be sitting right on the race?like touching? There’s a 1or 2mm gap there

 

[RickBullotta]

Probably another rookie question, but shouldn’t the bearing be sitting right on the race?like touching? There’s a 1or 2mm gap there

It sits on the bevel, not the base.

 

[MrPeaski]

Probably another rookie question, but shouldn’t the bearing be sitting right on the race?like touching? There’s a 1or 2mm gap there

The gap is the main reason the the headset fitted to all the Cube bikes is poor. Any crap that is thrown up from the front wheel is aimed straight at the completely unsealed bottom race (the bearing has a seal, but not very effective).
The Superstar one I linked to and I'm sure the Cane Creek one has a seal that closes the gap to keep the crap out.

 

[Reaper]

The gap is the main reason the the headset fitted to all the Cube bikes is poor. Any crap that is thrown up from the front wheel is aimed straight at the completely unsealed bottom race (the bearing has a seal, but not very effective).
The Superstar one I linked to and I'm sure the Cane Creek one has a seal that closes the gap to keep the crap out.

Totally makes sense, so I wasn’t completely mad. My lbs has the cane creek and it’s going in. Would have loved the orange superstar one though!