Ribble Headset Play

Twi78

I have recently bought a ribble gran fondo. Excellent bike but after about 100 miles I noticed that there is some play in the headset. I have followed the usual adjustment/tightening routine, but the play still exists. Stripping this back and re-fitting the headset, I notice that the bearing doesnt fit tightly into the frame. I think this is what is causing the play? Can anyone comment??

smidsy

After 100 miles I would have been on the phone to Ribble prior to doing anything else.

Twi78

Ribble are looking into it and I have sent them a bunch of photos showing how much play there is in the bearing. Am I right to think that the bearing should be a super tight fit in the frame?

Herbsman

Incorrect bearings? Are they 45 x 45 degrees or 45 x 36 degrees?

Twi78

45x45 - bit of a novice though, not sure what this means?

Ribble have now recalled the bike to resolve the issue. Have to say their customer service/satisfaction inportance is high.

Herbsman

It's the angle of the, erm, angled bit on the bearings.

Look at the bearing; the outside and inside are angled where they contact the headtube and the fork crown race.

On a 45 x 45 both are 45 degrees.

On a 45 x 36 the outside bit that contacts the headtube is 45 degrees and the inner bit is 36 degrees.

There is another difference though - 45 x 45 bearings are for headtubes with a 42mm diameter; 45 x 36's are for headtubes with a 41.1mm diameter.

If you had 45 x 36 bearings in a frame designed for the slightly bigger 45 x 45 bearings , or a 45 x 45 degree bearing on a 36 degree fork crown race, that could be a potential cause. But that doesn't seem to be the problem.