A FSA Duron issue, or head tube reaming/facing needed..or both?

[Igor]

I installed a new FSA Duron-X headset on a new (non-Riv) frame and noticed that the top nut and top cup are not parallel to one another. 

I popped the cups out, tried a few more times, and eventually got it a bit better, but still not perfect.

I then checked my Clem Smith and noticed that, while better than my nTh attempt, also not perfectly straight (barely noticeable..came to me from Riv that way, I assume from the factory).

Someone mentioned to me that their Riv with the headset also has this same crookedness, very slight... I plan to take the bike to the shop to have them take a look but, what is your experience? Is this a headset issue you've seen on your FSA as well?

[Garth]

Igor, Did you install both cups at the same time with a heasdset press, to ensure they're parallel ?  Even if you're using a DIY Rod, washer and nut press you can eyeball it and adjust the rod position to get them in straight. Grease in between the frame/cups helps immensely also, if you had not used any.

This assumes the headset is made correctly to begin with !

[Igor]

I've tried a few different ways. Some say to do two at once, other's say one at a time. If one at a time then at least one of them will be in parallel to the head tube, and then when one does the other one.. it'll be parallel to the other cup that's already pressed (in theory ;) )

[Peter White]

None of the photos show the top of the head tube lug and the insertion of the top bearing cup. But this is what I would expect to see if the top bearing cup was not installed with the proper bearing press, OR, if the top of the head tube was not properly machined, just like the Bleriot frames from a few years ago that I described last week.

Let's see a few photos clearly showing the interface between the bearing cups and the head tube.

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Peter White

[Igor]

https://imgur.com/a/L25QKmf

Here you go

[Mackenzy Albright]

The only time I've had an issue was a paint gloob on a new bike. Since then I've always just carefully filed the paint flat and mashed away at the headset with a hammer and block of wood and a bunch of grease trusting the machining is correct on the frame and headset. I know you're supposed to ream - but never had any other issues. I have heard of head tubes being uneven on some production bikes. Is the frame new or used? 

[Patrick Moore]

Lol. At least you used a block of wood. Long ago I installed a nice Logic headset in the same way, except I was lazy and didn't bother to find a block of wood. Last-gen-chromo Specialized Crossroads Cruz. I managed to chip a bit out of the skirt of one of the races but all still went in straight and true and I never had any problems with the headset.

Now I use a threaded rod and really big fender washers.

On Tue, Aug 27, 2024 at 10:22 AM Mackenzy Albright <mackenzy...@gmail.com> wrote:

... Since then I've always just carefully filed the paint flat and mashed away at the headset with a hammer and block of wood and a bunch of grease trusting the machining is correct on the frame and headset. 

[Will Boericke]

I had that Duron headset on a bike where I could not get the preload dialed in correctly, ever.  I replaced it with a Tange Falcon, but wonder if I had the same misalignment issue.  I also wondered if it was a counterfeiit.  My install tool is also a threaded rod and washers.

[Igor]

I've taken the frame to the shop so will see what they can do and report back.

My press is a https://wheelsmfg.com/headset-press-pro-install-kit.html 

[Igor]

Closing the loop here.. the head tube needed some facing. 

[Bill Lindsay]

...and is the FSA Duron headset totally working for you now that the head tube has been prepped?

Bill Lindsay

El Cerrito, CA

[Igor]

Correct Bill, everything is more than perfect.