How important is that final spacer/dust cap to have on your headset? I took mine out to get a little more drop. Am I going to mess anything up by doing this?
i don’t have one on my TT bike either for the same reason. My mechanic said it would be fine.
On a side note, I don’t ride that bike very often, and never in the rain. If I did, I’d clean and lube the headset bearings a little more often.
I’ve been told that it is “sometimes” bad because the stem isn’t machined to the same flatness as a spacer would be, which would load the bearing not uniformly. However many people seem to do it with no real problems, but I don’t know the long term ramifications of it.
Thanks. Anyone know if there is a cap out there that is super minimal? What is the smallest spacer size I can get?
The smallest conical cap I’ve seen is 10mm. I think FSA makes a carbon version of it, but not sure on the availability. Soul Kozak also makes a 10mm one I believe.
I guess another option would be to get another stem? There are some that are > 17 degrees which could increase your drop. Sometimes with these stems, a spacer is necessary to keep the stem from rubbing on your headtube, but the effective drop does end up being lower.
It should be ok as long as you stem bolts are tight…
If you are still looking for a really low stack Dust Cap search **Veloflyte Carbon Fiber Integrated Headset Dust Shield 1 1/8 thread less **on ebay.
Not cheap but it looks like it is exactly what you are searching for. I just purchased one so I can get lower on my P3.
I think I have a low pro that is ~ 6mm, but it’s an older IS2 so not sure how that will mate up to your top bearing. Is your dust cap free of any ridges, flat an uniform?
I may have included that with my Specialized I sold recently, but if it’s in my parts box I can shoot it to you.
Here are FSA’s 1 1/8" headset top covers. I believe they are in the $30 price range:
http://webstore.fullspeedahead.com/fly.aspx?layout=estoreproduct&taxid=352&pid=327
If you are still looking for a really low stack Dust Cap search **Veloflyte Carbon Fiber Integrated Headset Dust Shield 1 1/8 thread less **on ebay.
Not cheap but it looks like it is exactly what you are searching for. I just purchased one so I can get lower on my P3.
The headset on the SC 7.5 is:
Headset
Integrated, sealed bearings, 1" top, 1-1/8" bottom
So I guess I need a 1" dustcap… If it is “sealed” do I really need it?
In my experience the dust cap serves to evenly pre-load the upper bearing, distribute forces from the stem and help keep water/gunk out of the bearing.
There is typically a little ring that fits inside the bearing which the dust cover presses against and provides even pre-load. Different manufacturers have slightly different arrangements for accomplishing this. The profile of the dust caps also helps distribute forces associated with torsion better than just a headset spacer or the stem slammed on top of the bearing (I believe this in part caused the steerer tube sheer that caused Hincapie’s crash in Paris-Roubaix a few years back and caused more teams to go to a dust cap arrangement). Also, if you take a look at the bearing, the “seal” is usually just a piece of rubber that sits over the balls themselves. While it helps keep the grease in and the elements out, it is not impenetrable and if you ride in nasty weather no doubt you’ll find your steering to become gritty within a few rides.
I know Cane Creek makes a 9mm option. If you’re that desperate for more drop, personally I would get a lower stem.
Bontrager makes 4 bolt face plate -25 and -40 stems…I used a -25 and it was perfect…another option.
agree, I wouldn’t leave the dust cap off, and you can’t just use any 1" dustcap on any 1" headset.
In my experience the dust cap serves to evenly pre-load the upper bearing, distribute forces from the stem and help keep water/gunk out of the bearing.
There is typically a little ring that fits inside the bearing which the dust cover presses against and provides even pre-load. Different manufacturers have slightly different arrangements for accomplishing this. The profile of the dust caps also helps distribute forces associated with torsion better than just a headset spacer or the stem slammed on top of the bearing (I believe this in part caused the steerer tube sheer that caused Hincapie’s crash in Paris-Roubaix a few years back and caused more teams to go to a dust cap arrangement). Also, if you take a look at the bearing, the “seal” is usually just a piece of rubber that sits over the balls themselves. While it helps keep the grease in and the elements out, it is not impenetrable and if you ride in nasty weather no doubt you’ll find your steering to become gritty within a few rides.
I know Cane Creek makes a 9mm option. If you’re that desperate for more drop, personally I would get a lower stem.
Thanks guys. Dustcap is back on. Still playing with some fit options. Next step is to try the bars underneath the base bar (saw it in the SC owners thread).
Thanks guys. Dustcap is back on. Still playing with some fit options. Next step is to try the bars underneath the base bar (saw it in the SC owners thread).
I assume you know about the tri-rig adapters?
I think that is only for the 9 series bar, no?
I think that is only for the 9 series bar, no?
ah, yeah obviously if you are talking about dustcaps you wouldn’t have that. =)
+1 for the veloflyte cap
.
Can you expound on this?
just purchased a Veloflyte dust cap… stack height for a Veloflyte is basically the stack of your bearings plus the thickness of the carbon, which is like .5mm. In fact, I have to put .25 and .5mm spacers under the dust cap to get it high enough to not rub the frame.
So, assuming on a TT bike I’m fine with this arrangement. On a road bike I’ll do the .5mm thick, 3mm wide spacer under the dust cap and a standard carbon 3mm spacer on top of the dust cap and below the stem.
Why would the 10mm FSA dust cap be better, aside from the rubber o ring against the steerer and the rubber skirt around the outside at the frame/dust cap interface?
thx,
E
agree, I wouldn’t leave the dust cap off, and you can’t just use any 1" dustcap on any 1" headset.
In my experience the dust cap serves to evenly pre-load the upper bearing, distribute forces from the stem and help keep water/gunk out of the bearing.
There is typically a little ring that fits inside the bearing which the dust cover presses against and provides even pre-load. Different manufacturers have slightly different arrangements for accomplishing this. The profile of the dust caps also helps distribute forces associated with torsion better than just a headset spacer or the stem slammed on top of the bearing (I believe this in part caused the steerer tube sheer that caused Hincapie’s crash in Paris-Roubaix a few years back and caused more teams to go to a dust cap arrangement). Also, if you take a look at the bearing, the “seal” is usually just a piece of rubber that sits over the balls themselves. While it helps keep the grease in and the elements out, it is not impenetrable and if you ride in nasty weather no doubt you’ll find your steering to become gritty within a few rides.
I know Cane Creek makes a 9mm option. If you’re that desperate for more drop, personally I would get a lower stem.