What the hell is a crush washer?

bendertherobot

Apparently I need to install one between my crown race and headset bearings.

The fork is 1 1/8. Anyone got any idea?

Vmlopes

A washer that is designed to crush, made out of a soft maleable material. Have fitted some before to a Rockshock equipped mountain bike

bendertherobot

Paligap bloke said they are only one size. That's obviously not correct.

Do you know where to look?

bendertherobot

Right, so, as I understand it, it will need to have an internal diameter of at least 1 1/8 (28mm) being the fork diameter. Then it will need to sit on the fork crown, so will need to be an outside diameter of a bit more. But I have no idea how much. Does it just crush itself inside the bearing champfer? Is that even safe?

bendertherobot

They're sending one out

From what I can gather it will, in effect, add itself to the bearing chamber and give that bit more "fill" as it were.

wishitwasallflat

Interesting how about posting a couple of pics once it arrives and then fitted for future ref?

lapavoni10

I wonder if its a crush washer, or a wavy washer? Seems strange to have a crush washer, I thought they were used to make a seal...like in a vehicle sump plug?

JayKosta

I think the 'design idea' of a crush washer is to achieve full metal-to-metal contact even if there are slight irregularities in the surfaces. It might not be needed in every situation, but the designer probably wanted the possible benefits 'just to be sure'.

Jay Kosta
Endwell NY USA

andy_wrx

lapavoni10 wrote:

I wonder if its a crush washer, or a wavy washer? Seems strange to have a crush washer, I thought they were used to make a seal...like in a vehicle sump plug?

Agreed - a 'crush washer' is essentially a washer made of soft metal like copper, which crushes into place when tightened, thus acting as a gasket

bendertherobot

It turned up. Looks a lot like a wavy washer. Nothing fancy about it. They sent three. They are very thin indeed (of course). Whacked it on, gave the fork a whack down, tightened etc.

Lovely. Even with the top cap done up tight free movement. Before there was none if you over tightened. No play at all.

Good result. But Ritchey should include it or do a technical bulletin.