headset question follow up

[sloar]

i'm still having adjustment issues with my headset. its either to tight or too loose. even if its a little tight theres still a little play in the fork. i tried everything. you name it i tried it, except a bike shop mechanic. last thing i thought of though. i'm at work until tomorrow morning so i can't measure, but if i have a tapered headset and a straight steer tube fork, would that cause the problem? its a origin 8 headset on a newer carbon mtb frame and 2011 rock shox tora forks. so i thought maybe getting a fsa crown race reducer.



this is whats on there..



http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m615/sloar1070/DSC01722_zps001642ee.jpg (http://s1134.photobucket.com/user/sloar1070/media/DSC01722_zps001642ee.jpg.html)



this is what i think i need.


http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m615/sloar1070/_3_zpsea72d0d2.jpg (http://s1134.photobucket.com/user/sloar1070/media/_3_zpsea72d0d2.jpg.html)



any thoughts on this?

[macaroon]

Yes, your fork has a straight 1&1/8th steerer, there's a good chance your frame is tapered if it's a new carbon fibre thing. Most seem to use internal headsets, with larger bearings at the bottom.

And you're right, you'll need a reducer crown race, probably with a 45 degree chamfer on it.

[lhuerta]

If your frame has a tapered head tube then you need to install a headset that has different lower and upper headset cup diameters (e.g. http://www.fullspeedahead.com/category_list/53/HEADSETS )...this will be quite obvious by just looking at it. Otherwise, I am not clear what your questions is?
Lou

[sloar]

It has a tapered headset, but I have a straight steering tube on my fork. I think what's happening is the crown race is not sitting on the lower bearing, and it's smashing the bearing cups. I think I have the wrong crown race. So getting a crown race reducer should set it right. I'm hoping.

[macaroon]

yes you're right, just make sure you get the right crown race. I have done the same, albeit with a 1&1/8 steerer in a 1&1/2 frame. Same principal though. I used an FSA reducer headset that came with the correct crown race.

[sloar]

Does the fsa crown race reducer fit over the original 1 1/8 crown race or does it replace it.

[macaroon]

It replaces it

[sloar]

Fork crown race was the problem. Thanks