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I have an old Hope headset on my TallBoy 2, external cups - EC49/40.
A while ago I replaced the bearings as the top bearing had disintegrated and was rusting, even though everything felt fine.
A few days ago when I went to grab my bike, the bars wouldn't turn. I pulled the fork out and the lower bearing was completely solid. I had used this bearing :
https://simplybearings.co.uk/shop/p20000598/TH-873-36X45-deg-Headset-Bearing-30.15x41x6.5mm/product_info.html
Hope does say it is a 7mm width bearing, but I have noticed that there is a gap between the race and the bottom of the cups so went with a lower profile bearing to try close that gap a bit. But the grease in there was pretty clean, so I'm guessing I needed a 7mm bearing?
Is that gap normal or should I look to get a new lower race or cup?
7mm or 6.5mm bearing?
Sounds like you're missing a seal.
Sometimes the hope headsets have the seal on the crown race.