Weight Weenies

The bearings are a loose fit initially and are centered and held in place by the preload.

I still think it's the location of the compression plug.

1. take it out.
2. screw the top cap on to it all the way.
3. back off the top cap by 5mm or so.
4. with stem etc all in place, insert the plug by pushing it in with the cap.
5. tighten plug with allen key through the cap.
6. tighten top cap.

Cannondale's instructions have a slightly different way of doing a similar thing http://media.cannondale.com/media/manuals/2011_webOMS_01_english/2011_webOMS_126884_SuperSixEVO_EN.pdf

Short of flying over there and looking at it, I can't think of much else. If this does not work your next step would be to find a professional to get a second opinion.

bikerjulio wrote:The bearings are a loose fit initially and are centered and held in place by the preload.

Ah, thanks for confirming that for me.

So, given that the bearings centre themselves under load, it would make sense that there is not enough compression being applied, and the top bearing is not being held in centre...

I will run through your suggested installation and let you know how it goes.

Appreciated!

Very useful and fast responding technical forum this. Good stuff.

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I see. So you don't know the answer then.

The bearings should be somewhere between a slightly loose fit to a gentle press/tap, as mentioned above, they are held in place by the all the various tapers and the preload. Only headset i've had where they aren't removable by "hand" are Chris King which needs a proper bearing press.

(By hand i mean sometimes they need a tap with something, no violence tho!)

I know cannondale say no spacer above the stem, but could you just try taking your 10mm from under the stem and putting it on top. And see what happens. Just to suck it and see......

mattr wrote:The bearings should be somewhere between a slightly loose fit to a gentle press/tap, as mentioned above, they are held in place by the all the various tapers and the preload. Only headset i've had where they aren't removable by "hand" are Chris King which needs a proper bearing press.

(By hand i mean sometimes they need a tap with something, no violence tho!)

Great, thanks for the further clarification! I have only had integrated headsets on 2 bikes so far; all the other frames I have had have been traditional types where you press in top and bottom cups.

So yeah, I seem to remember the CAAD9 bearing dropping easily into the head tube.

mattr wrote:I know cannondale say no spacer above the stem, but could you just try taking your 10mm from under the stem and putting it on top. And see what happens. Just to suck it and see......

I went from a Deda Zero100 stem to a Deda Superleggero.

The Zero100 had 2 x 5mm spacers under it, with none on the top.

The Superleggero has a slightly lower stack height, so I put a 3mm spacer on the top. I have also tried a 5mm spacer, in case the steerer was still sticking out the top of the 3mm spacer.

With both configs I am still getting the problem.

Sorry, but just shuffling spacers won't achieve anything.

The Cannondale instructions were in my earlier post today.

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MIne does this - i put a thin smear of carbon friendly grease on the lower bearing in the frame - problem gone!

Is yours a big frame? MIne is 63cm. Longer steerer so more opportunity for flex / deflection.....

Causidicus wrote:

OwenJames wrote:I see. So you don't know the answer then.

I'm not the one with the problem. Sort it out by yourself.

Give OP a chance, he's only been at it for 3 weeks.

You twat.

Causidicus wrote:

OwenJames wrote:I see. So you don't know the answer then.

I'm not the one with the problem. Sort it out by yourself.

Are you frustrated and angry because you got it wrong about the headset bearings? You are displaying this internal turmoil in a fairly unsophisticated manner.

OwenJames wrote:

Causidicus wrote:

OwenJames wrote:I see. So you don't know the answer then.

I'm not the one with the problem. Sort it out by yourself.

Are you frustrated and angry because you got it wrong about the headset bearings? You are displaying this internal turmoil in a fairly unsophisticated manner.

Well? I'm going for unresolved childhood issues with Meccano that are just now revealing themselves. Or it could be something else. Rest on the couch here and tell us what's on your mind.

That, or maybe the modern aheadset design represents a painful metaphor- in order to succeed he has to follow the rules and exist in a state of perpetual compression or restriction. He wants to break free, but he knows if he does it will all fall apart and cause irrepairable damage.

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OwenJames wrote:That, or maybe the modern aheadset design represents a painful metaphor- in order to succeed he has to follow the rules and exist in a state of perpetual compression or restriction. He wants to break free, but he knows if he does it will all fall apart and cause irrepairable damage.

Always questions........

To be, or not to be, that is the question: Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, or to take arms against a sea of troubles? What a piece of work is a headset. How simple in reason, how infinite in possibilities.