Fitting 1.125 steerer forks into a tapered headset.

RupertCommunicator

My Trek Remedy came with an FSA no 57E E2 tapered headset in a tapered headtube with tapered forks. I would like to run my old Fox 36s in them without changing the headset.

Can you get some sort of shim or bushing that gives a straight steerer the ability to fit into an E2 headset?

nicklouse

there are some headsets that can be run with an oversize crown race.

will look into it later but i dont think FSA do one.

you could have a look through the FSA headset book linked in the sticky above.

Andy!

If they don't then the on-one smoothie mixer or superstar tapered headset crown races might have the correct bearing interface as they probably use the same bearings.

bike-a-swan

Hope do a headset that'll reduce that, as do on one. If it's all compatible, I have no idea! Don't know if they've actually hit on a standard yet

cavegiant

Oversized Crown race works for me, different frame though...so not really adding anything....

Andy!

bike-a-swan wrote:

Hope do a headset that'll reduce that, as do on one. If it's all compatible, I have no idea! Don't know if they've actually hit on a standard yet

I 'think' the hope one steps down with a smaller bearing and different cup or cup and reducer as when I asked them about getting the reducer then changing to a tapered fork later they said it wasnt as simple as a new crown race.

You can see both normal and reducer crown races in this pic:

bike-a-swan

Honestly, not sure! I think the on one one is just a matter of the race, but I couldn't say for sure.

RupertCommunicator

When a steerer sits in the headset, is it only the crown race that comes into contact with the lower part of the headset?

And if so, if I were to ring Superstar and get just the 1.125 crown race, would it fit in my FSA headset, or would I need to replace the whole headset?

Cheers for the info so far chaps! 8)

nicklouse

RupertCommunicator wrote:

When a steerer sits in the headset, is it only the crown race that comes into contact with the lower part of the headset?

And if so, if I were to ring Superstar and get just the 1.125 crown race, would it fit in my FSA headset, or would I need to replace the whole headset?

Cheers for the info so far chaps! 8)

may be.

not all headset are designed the same. as can be seen in the FSA headset book. some sit inside the OD of the cups some sit out side and under. then you need to make sure the angles are the same- 36 or 45 or.........

RupertCommunicator

nicklouse wrote:

RupertCommunicator wrote:

When a steerer sits in the headset, is it only the crown race that comes into contact with the lower part of the headset?

And if so, if I were to ring Superstar and get just the 1.125 crown race, would it fit in my FSA headset, or would I need to replace the whole headset?

Cheers for the info so far chaps! 8)

may be.

not all headset are designed the same. as can be seen in the FSA headset book. some sit inside the OD of the cups some sit out side and under. then you need to make sure the angles are the same- 36 or 45 or.........

FFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU.....................

Next question, how hard is it to remove a headset and the install a headset, bearing in mind I don't have a press or crown race tool or any of that stuff! :shock:

Andy!

Just checked on my bike (in bits) and the lower bearing is 45x45 degree - ie both top and bottom angles are 45 degree.

This should be written on the side of the bearing itself if you have cartridge bearings (all in one bearing unit with seals).

All I used to fit my crown race was a metal vacuum cleaner extension. Was just a bit larger than the steerer tube and did the job perfectly. The reducer crown races have a nice inner part to hit with no risk to the angled part.

I am sure the on-one are the same with just a crown race needed. They are stainless steel though on the on-one which is probably where the extra 50+g in headset weight comes from.

Just realised, superstar now sell the spare bearings for the headsets too. You could compare that to the specs of the FSA one which you should find in their catalog.

nicklouse

RupertCommunicator wrote:

nicklouse wrote:

RupertCommunicator wrote:

When a steerer sits in the headset, is it only the crown race that comes into contact with the lower part of the headset?

And if so, if I were to ring Superstar and get just the 1.125 crown race, would it fit in my FSA headset, or would I need to replace the whole headset?

Cheers for the info so far chaps! 8)

may be.

not all headset are designed the same. as can be seen in the FSA headset book. some sit inside the OD of the cups some sit out side and under. then you need to make sure the angles are the same- 36 or 45 or.........

FFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU.....................

Next question, how hard is it to remove a headset and the install a headset, bearing in mind I don't have a press or crown race tool or any of that stuff! :shock:

want to fubar the frame? try it. dont want to LBS or the right tools. but if you are asking then LBS. if you did not ask then you would have the confidence and protential ability to do it yourself.

look at some tools and see if you could make something yourself. Oh the best way to fit a cup is one at a time. (even with the correct tools).

RupertCommunicator

Sod fitting it myself, I defo don't want to fubar my frame!

I'd love to have CAD drawings of my headset, the Superstar headset and the converter crown race, that way I could know for sure!

I might just ask Superstar for their race and see if it fits!

*cue broken headset!*

Andy!

take your fork out and check out the writing specs on the lower bearing.

here is the SS lower bearing: http://superstar.tibolts.co.uk/index.php?cPath=61

looks like the FSA might be 45 deg too if the spares on that page are anything to go by.

specs on bearing here:

Andy!

Googled your headset and found this: http://www.southerndownhill.com/forum/i ... c=241769.0

near the bottom someone mentions a cane creek crown race from a trek dealer.

Maybe one of these? http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=11270

edit: only list the 1.5" but should be hard to sort out.

RupertCommunicator

Just taken this out of my bike, am glad I did, my headset was full of crap!

Unfortunately, no writing on the side stating what the angles are!

RupertCommunicator

Right. After much reading of Cane Creeks, Superstars and FSA websites, I've come to the following conclusion:

1. My bearing is probably 45 outer / 36 inner.

2. The Superstar one is 45/45.

3. This means the Superstar crown race will be 45 degrees.

SO. If I ring Superstar and grovel with them nicely, hopefully they will sell me a lower ACB bearing and 1.125 crown race. This, I think would fit into my FSA headset with my 1.1.25 forks.

Many thanks for the pointers guys, I have been trying to solve this problem myself for weeks!

nicklouse

if you can get it also get some vernier callipers and check the sizes.

good luck.

Andy!

to check the angles make some little 45 and 36 degree templates out of card and and check them against the bearing.

and yeah, good luck!

RupertCommunicator

Problem solved! I purchased a Cane Creek XXC converter crown race from JeJames, and it fits perfectly. I now have 36s where my 32s were.

Be warned though, the race is a bitch to fit! I had to sand my steerer, grease it and heat up the race to get it to fit! Also take some allen keys with you on your first ride, as the Crown Race re-seats itself after a few hits.

Am now enjoying my slacker head angle with a slightly higher BB, makes the knarly bits much easier, although I wasn't quite used to the handling when I mistimed a drop and ended up over the handlebars!

Total price for fork conversion:

1. Crown race - £15
2. Chunk of flesh out of shin.
3. MASSIVE bruise on hand.
4. Various other scrapes on back.

Oh well...