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I bought a Scandal frame well over a year ago and have been gradually acquiring bits, but for various reasons have only just got around to start building it. Although I'm reasonably practical, I'm a newbie cycle mechanic/bike builder. So apols if this is a dumb question.
The frame came with a headset fitted, but when I dry assemble it, there is a fairly significant gap between the top of the collar that sits inside the top bearing and the headset top cover/dust seal thingy. I'd say it's an even gap of around 0.5mm all round - plenty big enough for water and crap to get straight in to the bearing. See (hopefully) images below.
Is there a washer or shim missing to take up this gap? If so where would I get one? Is the top bearing the wrong size or has it been fitted incorrectly? Do I need a new HS?
I bought the frame 'new second hand' - someone else's unstarted project, so I can't go back to planet X.
Any (sensible) advice appreciated 👍
It's not right, but sadly normal, They seem to assemble these headsets with random parts in the factorys, some having shallower compression rings than others, and thus varying gaps between parts. Your LBS may have a shallower ring knocking about in their spares box that you could shim out to fit.
Thanks coatesy. I've got a really good LBS local to me, I go and ask them on Monday.
Will it not all fit into place when you fit and tighten the top cap? I've had similar experiences with worrying-looking gaps when assembling headsets, but they always pull into place when all the bits are fitted and tightened-down.
^^^ Yeah That
Its certainly worth sticking the fork in stetting up the spacers and stem then tightening the top cap to see if it pulls together
Yep will give that a try. Just waiting on a saw guide to arrive before I cut the steerer, fit the fork and stem and tighten it all up. If it doesn't close the gap I'll try the LBS.
I think I’d tighten it all down and see what happens - it might pull together a bit more.
Tbf the top bearing gets a lot less mud / water crap thrown at it - even if there’s a small gap I wouldn’t worry too much. In my experience it’s always the bottom bearing that dies first - never even had a top one go gritty.
In my experience it’s always the bottom bearing that dies first – never even had a top one go gritty.
huh, weirdly for me, almost always the other way around. I wonder if that's because I fit a fork mounted mud guard?