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As per the title
I am surprised I cant find any other threads on the internet about this.
The underside of the top tube has more holes in it than the Brexit argument. Consequently every time I clean it loads of dirty water gets inside and infiltrates the lower headset race.
I trashed one headset this way but thought it was caused by the poor sealing of the standard Syntace bearing - which for some reason doesn't have a crown race seal....so I replaced it with a posh Cane Creek 110 headset that does.
But it still happens - sometimes after just 1 muddy ride the headset feels all gritty and I have to strip it down, clean and regrease it straight away so my posh headset doesn't get ruined.
Due to the extra external seals on this headset I'm convinced the water is getting to the bearings from the inside when I clean it. Often, after tilting the bike every which way, half a litre comes out.
Anyone else having this problem? It seems impossible its just me?
...and if so what to do about it. I never use a jet wash and only clean it when the drive train really needs it. But I'm getting sick of having to service it all the time. The only idea I have had was to spray a load of expanding foam inside the frame - but I am worried this might just trap water inside.
got a 301, never had this as an issue.
BTW I was mine every week with a hose. Probably cursed myself now. I did slap a load of grease in them 6 months ago mind.
I run standard syntace with no lower crown race wiper. I did run a hope one for a while but found that it collected dirt
Do you wash he bike upside down? Im wondering what i do differently
What size is your frame? I’m only asking, because I have both M & L 301 Mk 10.
The M frame has no open holes into the top tube - the port for the dropper cable/hose is a sealed tube welded into the top tube, so nothing can get in there. The little attachments for cable ties are sealed too.
The L frame however has a 16mm -ish hole under the top tube and another under the seat tube brace, which, I suppose, could allow water in. If you wash the bike on its wheels then I suppose most water would run out anyway but if it’s tilted forwards then it could find its way into the head tube.
You could seal the hole in the head tube either with gorilla tape or a shaped piece of aluminium sheet epoxied in place which would be the better option and an easy enough job - just clean/degrease it well.
Its a large mk10
I think tge penny just dropped
Why is the large different!
Bit of a design floor that surely
Tganks for the info though...now making a lot more sense why others maybe havent experienced it
Mines a medium
ndthornton - Member
Its a large mk10
Why is the large different!
Well, the simple answer is because sizes above M have a bracing tube between the top tube and seattube, so presumably it would be more difficult to run a welded-in tube all the way through,
The water will be getting in from the top, probably, (where the hole is hidden by the brace) rather than underneath but unless the bike is held front low (like in a workstand) it shouldn’t make its way to the head tube.
Having said that, I still think it would be a goid idea to blank off the hole at the head tube - I reckon I’ll do so anyway, it can only do some good.
Pretty sure mines a MK11 in large. Never noticed any problems. Tape inside the head tube and sugru the holes?
I would go with blocking the holes into the head tube, tape or sugru.
Thanks for the advice all. Ill see about blocking up these holes then. The holes for the dropper cable are annoying as i dont even use it for anything
I have a Large Mk11 and never had an issue since I bought the frame s/h. The h/s bearings were totally washed out when I got it though and I can only assume the previous owner had jet washed it a lot.
I don't wash it much though - it's raw so I just clean and lube the drive train and suspension and brush off the mud.
At the Liteville test centre we jet wash the bikes every day. Even if they come back just dusty as the presentation is important. We don't recommend washing the bikes upside down as this can increase water in the frame. We had just 1 issue with a headset on one bike in the last 3 years that we put down to a bad seal and washing upside down. We lay the bikes on their side. There are rubber blanking plugs available for the holes in the frames but I only have a few here in the UK until I return to Italy. New frames are supplied with the plugs normally. We never have need to change headset bearings other than that one instance. The holes can also serve to let the frame breathe.. But in the UK that often involves drowning as well. Tape the holes up in the short term. Storing the bike in a dry warm place is another obvious one but I appreciate not always possible. Cheers.