Lets Talk Headsets

325racer · **Posted:** Sat Mar 15, 2014 3:45 pm

I have a Cane Creek Ten that came on my bike, but I've never been happy with it. It always seems to have some play, never wants to fully tighten and stay tight.

So I'm thinking about an upgrade, just not sure which way to go with so many choices out there.

For reference it's a Zero Stack 44mm top and a External Cup 49mm.

I don't have any Brand preference, but want something that will work and stop coming lose.

Mike G · **Posted:** Sun Mar 16, 2014 10:53 am

I've had the same CK headset for almost 16 years. It's been on 3 different bikes and ridden in all conditions. I only wash my bike about once a year (translation; I don't give a shit). The headset is still as smooth as the day I bought it. Now that is getting your moneys worth.

325racer · **Posted:** Sun Mar 16, 2014 12:39 pm

After spending a good part of yesterday afternoon poking around on the net, I think it comes down to either a CK or CC110.

Fred suggested checking the star nut as it might be slipping, so I'll look at that, but hey, it's as good as any excuse to upgrade!!!!!!!!!

A_street · **Posted:** Sun Mar 16, 2014 4:05 pm

But it's an upgrade that has very little if any benefit of getting. I would say to take the bike to a shop and spend the $15 to have the headset serviced and tightened. If they tell you to get a new one, then ok. Don't waste money without knowing if it needs replacing though.

palom0 · **Posted:** Sun Mar 16, 2014 4:54 pm

The CK 110 series bottom bearing has one great feature: it comes with a sealed race that you need to press in the the fork's steering tube. The race has a rubber lip that keeps all dirt out. 2 years for me and so far great.

DWill · **Posted:** Sun Mar 16, 2014 5:27 pm

I love my CK headset… smooth as silk and it'll last forever.

tfitz · **Posted:** Sun Mar 16, 2014 6:16 pm

A_street wrote:

But it's an upgrade that has very little if any benefit of getting. I would say to take the bike to a shop and spend the $15 to have the headset serviced and tightened. If they tell you to get a new one, then ok. Don't waste money without knowing if it needs replacing though.

Headsets don't come loose. Take this advice look at stems while it's in the shop.

tfitz · **Posted:** Sun Mar 16, 2014 6:20 pm

DWill wrote:

I love my CK headset… smooth as silk and it'll last forever.

Will have you looked into ceramic bearings. Now that would be cool.

DWill · **Posted:** Sun Mar 16, 2014 10:10 pm

tfitz wrote:

DWill wrote:

I love my CK headset… smooth as silk and it'll last forever.

Will have you looked into ceramic bearings. Now that would be cool.

I put them in my bottom bracket, can't tell any difference.

Now, in my RC Heli's huge difference between ceramic and steel.

Red Hot Sloth · **Posted:** Tue Mar 18, 2014 3:34 pm

The Chris King will last a looong time, for sure worth it. I agree, its not necessarily a performance upgrade in the strictest sense but its performance over a long life is better than any others Ive run.
You shouldnt need to go to the bike shop for this, your not a noob, if its loose its loose, doesnt mean it keeps coming loose, it could possibly mean the stem and headset werent preloaded properly to begin with. Star-fangled nuts dont just come loose unless they are rusted out, if thats the case, bang it down and set a new one, I think they cost $2 or less. I have a star-nut setter if you choose to go that route, it only takes a couple seconds.

325racer · **Posted:** Tue Mar 18, 2014 8:55 pm

Agreed its certainly not a "performance" upgrade, cause it won't make me any faster. However, having a $30 part on a $3k bike that comes loose is just plain annoying.

I wasn't going to comment on the shop thing, because back in the day I used to be a wrench at a couple shops back east. But that was back when threadless was just being introduced. As mentioned in my first post this headset continues to come loose.

I need to pull stuff apart and see what's going on.

And to be honest, it may have been damaged when I had my crash in 2012, that almost killed me. At that point itwent back to the shop, where they replaced something, I think the upper bearing.

So it's not so much a debate to fix the current one, it's what to replace it with.

CK, CC110, or just do a CC40 and save about $50-60.

I do kinda like CK in Gold!!!

McLovin · **Posted:** Wed Mar 19, 2014 11:07 am

One thing I've noticed on a few buddies' bikes is that if the stem bolts aren't tight enough (clamping onto the steerer) then the headset will work it's way loose all the time. The star nut is really there to set the preload while you have the stem loose and then once the stem is tightened down it's really the stem that's keeping everything locked into place. The star nut isn't designed to do all of that work, otherwise it will start to work it's way out.

325racer · **Posted:** Fri Mar 21, 2014 12:26 pm

So on the headsets, does anyone have a bearing press that I could borrow??

OldDogDan · **Posted:** Fri Mar 21, 2014 3:17 pm

325racer wrote:

So on the headsets, does anyone have a bearing press that I could borrow??

Don't have a Park tool, but a piece of allthread, two nuts, and some big washers from your closest hardware store will do nicely.

chuckanado · **Posted:** Fri Mar 21, 2014 4:55 pm

This:

(edited to add specs...)

1 - 5/8" allthread, 12" long
2 - standard 5/8" washers
2 - standard 5/8" nuts
2 - 5/8" Simpson BPs (Bearing Plates - the big square washers)

Home Depot has the BPs in the construction materials department with the rest of the Simpson Strong-Tie stuff.

I think the whole shebang was only about 5 or 10 bucks.

The piece of gray PVC conduit in the middle is just there for storage - you don't need it or use it when pressing your headset.

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