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Something I've pondered over the years, now aired into a question.
Many cartridge bearing headsets come with a split crown race to ease fitment ... but not all.
Is there any reason you shouldn't take a hacksaw to add a split to a non-split crown race?
No, none at all.
The taper on the bearing will hold the crown race in place.
Just make sure you know how to use a saw/file/sand paper. A nasty crappy cut will not do the fork any favours.
I've actually been looking to go the other way - from a split race to a solid one. Not sure if there's much in it, but read some accounts of the split crown races being a potential source of creaking, something I'm struggling to eradicate from one bike. Not quite sure what solid crown race will play nicely with a Hope lower bearing though.
I agree split races make life a lot easier though.
Anecdotal evidence from a sample size of one...
But my cane creek 40 headset has a full crown race with a rubber seal all the way around the edge. Put that bike through the same as a hope headset with a split race. The cane creak came out the other side with less crud in the grease.
I'll take the odd difficulty removing them for that.
a) put the split at the side
b) don't cut through the rubber lip seal, most of them can be popped off (i've done that with several). Seals that can't be removed, i've had to work round using a dremel to cut the race, but not the seal.
c) the bearing itself is sufficiently sealed to deal with dirt in the grease. It's essentially a static seal. (Unless the bearing has no seals, if so, buy a better headset?)
d) tidy the cut up so the race has no burrs or marks, make sure you don't damage it (make it oval or "spiral") while cutting. I've not had any creak after cutting. In fact the only creaky headsets i've come across lately are those horrible acros things that so many manufacturers fit. Don't think there's any way i could make them better, or worse. So I replaced them.
Haven't heard this one for a while. I'm sure I remember this debate getting quite contentious BITD.
Haven't heard this one for a while. I'm sure I remember this debate getting quite contentious BITD.
The day is still young! 😆
I’ve done this quite a few times with no problem