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Im hoping that someone can explain to me why my headset bearings have a lip on them? It doent seem to sit the headset hardware in it (it is flanged and sits ontop) so why have it? ie i can see no reason why to use one without the lip.
Im just curious as ive ordered 2 (one with and one without as they are cheap) to check the fit. i cant see any reason for it.
like this?
Good question!
I think it's unique to specialized using their 'campy fit' headsets?
I would also be interested in what you find when comparing the two types - will they fit with the existing compression ring or is that also unique to the bearing lip aspect??
I actually tried the 'Enduro' version of the bearing (IS42?) from the apparently compatible hope headset but it creaked like a b*stard! With both the original and hope supplied bearing so I went back to the original FSA/TH Industries product.
Edit - after re-reading later - I should have said "with both the original and hope supplied compression ring...."
ok so i got the two bearings and using the original fsa collar the collar will sit on the inside edge of the bearing with no lip.
It will sit on the chamfer of the bearing with a lip so obviously they arnt cross compatible.
The non lip version the collar also sits 1mm higher but i dont believe this is an issue.
in a pinch you could use it i guess but theres no point.
Ok- thank you for reporting back. I figure by 'collar' you refer to the compression ring?
If it sits higher then the top cap would be higher and that would be an issue (not so much of function but there may be a bigger gap to let dirt in?) so a different compression ring would be required.
It seems to be a unique to Specialized thing and fortunately so widely used by them that the bearings are readily available - and they need to be because they don't last long!
As a side note I tried both the Hope supplied crown race and a cane creek onw as they have the benefit of a seal but the Hope makes the bearing sit too high so the seal doesn't touch the head tube (and that is a hope supplied IS52 bearing and race) but the cane creek was OK, but I didn't like it as it's not a split one.
So back to regularly re-greasing the headset and changing the bearings at least once a year.
Have you tried any form of 'marine grease' ?
yes ive filled them with xhp222 and noticed bugger all improvement tbh. well they wernt rusty but they still clicked.
Ive got a hope ring with the seal and tbh even on the old bike it never mated up against the hope bearing fully. i could see it damaging the frame if it did and got grit in there.
the top cap has a small recess in it that you can shim (i need 1 shim in mine) else it will top out on the frame and you'll get noise prematurely. its a fine line ill give you that but the oring on the top cap actually sits on the seal on the bearing so it doesnt do much anyway!