WW techie help... aka. headset baseplate doesn't fit fork

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audiojan
Posts: 795
Joined: Fri Jan 27, 2006 1:38 pm
Location: New Hampshire

by audiojan

My wife has a new Orbea Orca Dama that she's asking me to build up for her. Not a big deal since I've done all the wrenching on all our other bikes. EXCEPT, the darn headset baseplate doesn't push all the way down to the fork crown! It's a gap of about 15mm and it just won't go any further. What do I do?!
"Suddenly the thought struck me; my floor is someone elses ceiling" - Nils Ferlin

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MajorMantra
Posts: 286
Joined: Mon Nov 02, 2009 8:38 pm

by MajorMantra

Are you using a proper crown race tool, or something that passes for one?:

Image

It can take a bit of force, and it needs to be applied evenly so it goes on straight and doesn't get stuck.
Last edited by MajorMantra on Wed Aug 14, 2013 7:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.

sungod
Posts: 1702
Joined: Fri Dec 24, 2010 9:37 pm

by sungod

^^^this

or you can improvise with a piece of pipe

either way, it needs a good whomp to seat a crown race

if it's an alloy steerer there's the outside chance that it hasn't been finished to allow fitting the race, but a cf steerer should be ready

to ease things, lightly grease the area where the race goes, heat the race before fitting (boiling water, no more than that)

goodboyr
Posts: 1487
Joined: Wed Jan 10, 2007 10:56 pm
Location: Canada

by goodboyr

Its got a 1.5" lower bearing. Are you sure you've got the right size crown race?

audiojan
Posts: 795
Joined: Fri Jan 27, 2006 1:38 pm
Location: New Hampshire

by audiojan

Yes, the crown race is the right diameter. That's the first thing I checked. I didn't use a press/tool, but I guess I need to improvise to get that seated. Thanks for the suggestion!
"Suddenly the thought struck me; my floor is someone elses ceiling" - Nils Ferlin

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