Colnago C60 Fork - Is This normal?

3Pio
3Pio Posts: 42
edited August 2016 in Workshop
Hi there. I just bought a brand new Colnago C60, and while im packing the things for the flight i noticed something strange.


On the forks i found on the net there is like metal spacer on the fork in the part that fork connect the frame, on my is bare carbon. When i try to put for the fork in the frame its feeling ok, but still, since im leaving tommorow (i didnt bought it in my country), it would be good to know if this is normal or not.

So this is forks i found the net:

Forks_IFound_On_The_Net.jpg

And another one:

Another_Fork_On_The_Net.jpg


And this is how my fork look like (no metal spacer on that part, just bare carbon):

My_Fork.jpg


So is this normal? Or i got lemon?


Greetings, please answer me as soon as possible

Comments

  • joe2008
    joe2008 Posts: 1,531
    edited July 2016
    That's the crown race the headset sits on.
  • 3Pio
    3Pio Posts: 42
    joe2008 wrote:
    Normal. It's the crown race the the headset sits on.

    And what is that conical metal spacer i can see on other pictures?

    The part that is allready installed in the frame?
  • joe2008
    joe2008 Posts: 1,531
    3Pio wrote:
    joe2008 wrote:
    Normal. It's the crown race the the headset sits on.

    And what is that conical metal spacer i can see on other pictures?

    The part that is allready installed in the frame?

    Your fork needs a crown race for the headset bearings to sit on.
  • 3Pio
    3Pio Posts: 42
    joe2008 wrote:
    3Pio wrote:
    joe2008 wrote:
    Normal. It's the crown race the the headset sits on.

    And what is that conical metal spacer i can see on other pictures?

    The part that is allready installed in the frame?

    Your fork needs a crown race for the headset bearings to sit on.

    This is what i have installed in frame.. No other parts in the box.

    pressedinframe.jpg

    pressedinframe1.jpg

    pressedinframe2.jpg


    Is this crown race allready installed in frame or they didnt deliver to me and is missing?

    When i put the fork like this in the frame, i cant feel any play or something
  • Captain Fagor
    Captain Fagor Posts: 739
    I don't think there's anything wrong with your C60.

    Older C60's (2014 and earlier) had a square shaped fork crown that needed a crown race installed (the "conical spacer" you refer to). Newer C60's (2015 onwards) have a tapered crown which does not need a crown race to be installed on the fork. So the carbon fork is fitted directly into the headset in the headtube, with no play. Just like yours.
  • 3Pio
    3Pio Posts: 42
    Captain Fagor wrote:
    I don't think there's anything wrong with your C60.

    Older C60's (2014 and earlier) had a square shaped fork crown that needed a crown race installed (the "conical spacer" you refer to). Newer C60's (2015 onwards) have a tapered crown which does not need a crown race to be installed on the fork. So the carbon fork is fitted directly into the headset in the headtube, with no play. Just like yours.

    Thanks a lot for ur answer..

    This sound to me like downgrade in design then.. If something is wrong in the older design with crown race, then just the crown race would be damaged and replaced.

    This new design without crown race, if something go wrong directly carbon part of the fork would be damaged.


    Or im wrng presuming this?
  • joe2008
    joe2008 Posts: 1,531
    Captain Fagor wrote:
    I don't think there's anything wrong with your C60.

    Older C60's (2014 and earlier) had a square shaped fork crown that needed a crown race installed (the "conical spacer" you refer to). Newer C60's (2015 onwards) have a tapered crown which does not need a crown race to be installed on the fork. So the carbon fork is fitted directly into the headset in the headtube, with no play. Just like yours.

    I wasn't aware of this; so that's all good then :D
  • 3Pio
    3Pio Posts: 42
    joe2008 wrote:
    Captain Fagor wrote:
    I don't think there's anything wrong with your C60.

    Older C60's (2014 and earlier) had a square shaped fork crown that needed a crown race installed (the "conical spacer" you refer to). Newer C60's (2015 onwards) have a tapered crown which does not need a crown race to be installed on the fork. So the carbon fork is fitted directly into the headset in the headtube, with no play. Just like yours.

    I wasn't aware of this; so that's all good then :D

    I went to Italy specialy to buy a C60 :)

    U cant understund how i feel when i discover that maybe something missing, since im leving tommorow and today is Sunday and they not working

    Good to know that everything is fine even look to me like downgrade in design
  • Captain Fagor
    Captain Fagor Posts: 739
    3Pio. Like a lot of things, enginering sense goes out the window and marketing men calls the shots nowadays. It's unlikely anything will ever go wrong with the fork though, so I wouldn't worry about it. Plenty of manufacturers have carbon crown races. My Look 595 (circa 2008/9) has one, so Colnago are late to the party.
  • 3Pio
    3Pio Posts: 42
    Captain Fagor wrote:
    3Pio. Like a lot of things, enginering sense goes out the window and marketing men calls the shots nowadays. It's unlikely anything will ever go wrong with the fork though, so I wouldn't worry about it. Plenty of manufacturers have carbon crown races. My Look 595 (circa 2008/9) has one, so Colnago are late to the party.

    Thanks a lot. U helped me a lot with this.

    And should i put some grease on the carbon part of the fork before installing in frame? And what kind of grease would work the best?

    Or no grease?
  • joe2008
    joe2008 Posts: 1,531
    3Pio wrote:
    joe2008 wrote:
    Captain Fagor wrote:
    I don't think there's anything wrong with your C60.

    Older C60's (2014 and earlier) had a square shaped fork crown that needed a crown race installed (the "conical spacer" you refer to). Newer C60's (2015 onwards) have a tapered crown which does not need a crown race to be installed on the fork. So the carbon fork is fitted directly into the headset in the headtube, with no play. Just like yours.

    I wasn't aware of this; so that's all good then :D

    I went to Italy specialy to buy a C60 :)

    U cant understund how i feel when i discover that maybe something missing, since im leving tommorow and today is Sunday and they not working

    Good to know that everything is fine even look to me like downgrade in design

    Nice, enjoy your lovely bike.
  • 3Pio
    3Pio Posts: 42
    joe2008 wrote:
    3Pio wrote:
    joe2008 wrote:
    Captain Fagor wrote:
    I don't think there's anything wrong with your C60.

    Older C60's (2014 and earlier) had a square shaped fork crown that needed a crown race installed (the "conical spacer" you refer to). Newer C60's (2015 onwards) have a tapered crown which does not need a crown race to be installed on the fork. So the carbon fork is fitted directly into the headset in the headtube, with no play. Just like yours.

    I wasn't aware of this; so that's all good then :D

    I went to Italy specialy to buy a C60 :)

    U cant understund how i feel when i discover that maybe something missing, since im leving tommorow and today is Sunday and they not working

    Good to know that everything is fine even look to me like downgrade in design

    Nice, enjoy your lovely bike.

    I had problems few months with my decision and i was torned between Dogma F8, Specialissma and C60 and specialy becouse of real sizing and how they ride..

    I decided to do it real way :)

    1. Come to Italy

    2. Rettul fitting to local specialist

    3. Rent a Pinarello Dogma F8 for 140 km test ride

    4. Test Ride Colnago C60 for 140 km test ride

    5. I rode Bianchi Oltre before 251 km test ride


    6. Buy C60 in Italy :)

    7. Drink a lot of esspresso and wine :)


    Rettul fitter helped me a lot, but i'll post a new thread about all this experience as soon as i get home
  • trailflow
    trailflow Posts: 1,311
    No grease.
  • 3Pio
    3Pio Posts: 42
    trailflow wrote:
    No grease.

    No Grease? So what kind of protection would be for dust, little rocks etc if its without grease and no seals at all?
  • trailflow
    trailflow Posts: 1,311
    Some greases can react with the carbon and resin.

    The bearings containers already have seals. They will protect the bearings from dust and stones.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,310
    Captain Fagor wrote:
    I don't think there's anything wrong with your C60.

    Older C60's (2014 and earlier) had a square shaped fork crown that needed a crown race installed (the "conical spacer" you refer to). Newer C60's (2015 onwards) have a tapered crown which does not need a crown race to be installed on the fork. So the carbon fork is fitted directly into the headset in the headtube, with no play. Just like yours.

    But without the metal crown, will the carbon not wear out quickly?
    left the forum March 2023
  • 3Pio
    3Pio Posts: 42
    trailflow wrote:
    Some greases can react with the carbon and resin.

    The bearings containers already have seals. They will protect the bearings from dust and stones.

    I understund about the bearings.. But what about carbon crown damage? Dust or little rocks wouldnt damage and scratch the carbon crown after a while without any protection ? (no seals here, and if i dont put grease it would be no protection at all for this part of the crown)
  • mamba80
    mamba80 Posts: 5,032
    3Pio wrote:
    trailflow wrote:
    Some greases can react with the carbon and resin.

    The bearings containers already have seals. They will protect the bearings from dust and stones.

    I understund about the bearings.. But what about carbon crown damage? Dust or little rocks wouldnt damage and scratch the carbon crown after a while without any protection ? (no seals here, and if i dont put grease it would be no protection at all for this part of the crown)

    on my look 595 2009 model, the headset bearing sits directly on to the carbon fork crown , exactly the same as yours.
    i ve done about 50k on this bike, and just use a small amount of copper based grease on the fork/bearing, i ve gone through one set of bearings in that time.
    the design is perfect, as there is less for any corrosion to act on and one less part to fail, if you had the alloy fork crown - the bearing does not turn on the fork (unless the bearing siezed and you d know about that) so there is no wear, just assemble with copperslip and forget about it.
  • imposter2.0
    imposter2.0 Posts: 12,028
    ugo.santalucia wrote:
    Captain Fagor wrote:
    I don't think there's anything wrong with your C60.

    Older C60's (2014 and earlier) had a square shaped fork crown that needed a crown race installed (the "conical spacer" you refer to). Newer C60's (2015 onwards) have a tapered crown which does not need a crown race to be installed on the fork. So the carbon fork is fitted directly into the headset in the headtube, with no play. Just like yours.

    But without the metal crown, will the carbon not wear out quickly?

    As Mamba says, there is no wear as the contact surfaces do not move independently of each other once fitted.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,310
    Imposter wrote:
    ugo.santalucia wrote:
    Captain Fagor wrote:
    I don't think there's anything wrong with your C60.

    Older C60's (2014 and earlier) had a square shaped fork crown that needed a crown race installed (the "conical spacer" you refer to). Newer C60's (2015 onwards) have a tapered crown which does not need a crown race to be installed on the fork. So the carbon fork is fitted directly into the headset in the headtube, with no play. Just like yours.

    But without the metal crown, will the carbon not wear out quickly?

    As Mamba says, there is no wear as the contact surfaces do not move independently of each other once fitted.

    I know they don't... I was thinking in terms of the load directly onto the carbon... which is a soft material. I suspect it is down to having a perfect fit and as big as possible contact between the inner race of the bearing and the carbon. I am always weary of parts in contact which are not machined to be mated
    left the forum March 2023
  • pilot_pete
    pilot_pete Posts: 2,120
    My C60, ordered Aug '15, delivered Oct '15 has a metal crown race on the fork...

    PP
  • 3Pio
    3Pio Posts: 42
    Today i'll install it the fork..

    What grease do u recommend as the best one for this purpose, and how much to apply.

    I have those at home:

    1. WHITE GREASE

    Lithium-based white lubricant grease especially for bicycles. MOTOREX WHITE GREASE has outstanding wear-reducing properties and remains malleable at cold temperatures. Ideal for slide bearings and cranksets.

    http://www.motorex.com/index.cfm?oid=11 ... tragId=127


    2. BIKE GREASE 2000

    Ultimate-performance long-life grease for optimum lubrication. Maximum adhesion and total resistance to water. Optimum protection against corrosion and wear even under extreme conditions. Excellent pressure bearing capacity. Extends lubrication intervals. Calcium grease NLGI 2.

    http://www.motorex.com/index.cfm?oid=11 ... tragId=126


    3. COPPER PASTE

    Copper compound for use at temperatures from -40 °C (-40 °F) and +1200 °C (+2192 °F). Prevents threaded studs and nuts from seizing. Resistant to fretting corrosion and vibration. NLGI 2.

    http://www.motorex.com/index.cfm?oid=11 ... tragId=128




    Of course, if none of this are ok for fork installation, just recommend me the right one, and i'll order it.

    Thanks a lot in advance
  • pilot_pete
    pilot_pete Posts: 2,120
    Either of the first two but not the third I would have said...

    PP
  • 3Pio
    3Pio Posts: 42
    Pilot Pete wrote:
    Either of the first two but not the third I would have said...

    PP

    Then i'll go with the white one (Lithium based, first one on this list).

    How much grease to apply? Plenty? Or just a thin film of grease? And should i go to the upper part of the fork with grease as well? (Stereer)

    Thanks..
  • 3Pio
    3Pio Posts: 42
    Im almost done with assembly, only cable installation left now.

    I noticed that there is no Ferrules (End Caps), for the brake cables on Campagnolo cable kit. I found metal one from the local bike shop, and wonder should i install this brake cables on C60 with Metal End Caps (Ferrules), or just cable without nothing at the end?

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