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  #46  
Old 02-29-2024, 06:38 PM
PortlyPuncheur PortlyPuncheur is offline
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Join Date: Mar 2022
Location: Albuquerque, NM
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Sorry Dan, this sounds infuriating.

A few ideas:

1) Trying a different stem strikes me as the low hanging fruit here. Pretty easy to do, swap for another temporarily (even if it's the wrong fit) or buy a cheapo or second hand to test.

2) Could your steer tube be out of round? Measuring this would be tricky, of course, but any glaring signs like dimples or cracks under the stem clamping area?

3) Could the compression plug be overtightened and causing the steer tube to bulge? This could, again, lead the steer tube to be out of round and greatly reduce the friction between stem and steer tube. I can think of a couple ways to eliminate this: 1) ditch the compression plug and epoxy in an aluminum insert. Cervelo used to strongly recommend this method. 2) Start with a tight compression plug, set pre-load as per routine, partially tighten stem bolts (3 or 4 Nm) to hold the pre-load, then loosen compression plug before fully bringing the stem to torque spec, then re-tighten compression plug.

4) I think a couple others above are talking about something like Chris King's HEADSET SCUFF WASHER:
"Headset scuff washers protect your headset's anodized finish, eliminate unwanted noises, and make up for some variance common in non-Chris King headset spacers."
This came with my CK headset and they strongly recommend using it. I think the idea is it compresses a bit to absorb any tiny gaps between top cap and stem/spacer stack that could otherwise allow the top cap and bearing to shift over time.
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  #47  
Old 05-06-2024, 01:47 PM
HowardCosellsPR HowardCosellsPR is offline
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Any updates?
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  #48  
Old 05-17-2024, 05:40 PM
toronto-rider toronto-rider is offline
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Join Date: Jan 2007
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So, I have nonstop issues with the headset as well. I have spent about $300 on service fees on my headset.

A week ago took my bike to my LBS as there was headset play again. He took the fork out and found that due to the movement of the headset, it had damaged the fork, and the fork needed to be replaced.
Prior to brining my bike to the LBS, I had ordered the Wolf-tooth replacement headset, as I wanted a new one.

As my LBS is not a specialized dealer, I had to take emy bioke to a Specailized store. Alo my LBS could not get the Wolf TOoth headset to work.

I went to a Specialized store, and both the store and Specialized were amazing. A New fork was received within 2 days of the warranty claim, and the work was done the same day, and they got the Wolf Tooth headset to work.

https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1Q...3Y_0hFY_F-7flZ
https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1Q...m3KKLQYsUp6rQN
https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1Q...cP1HUiLzQeTxF_

New fork and Headset
https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1Q...40GjiVxI4TGWQZ
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  #49  
Old 05-17-2024, 06:17 PM
glepore glepore is offline
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Location: Charlottesville Va
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Escape Collective's tech podcast just mentioned that headset issues are apparently an ongoing known Crux thing. Something about the plastic split ring wearing or breaking. Kinda ironic as its there to avoid steerer damage but its prone to fail and lead to...steerer damage.
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  #50  
Old 07-14-2024, 07:46 PM
proletariandan proletariandan is offline
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Location: Oakland, CA
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July 2024 Update: I believe that I finally isolated the problem to a slipping expander plug bolt.

The bolt held well enough to give the illusion of proper preload of the headset bolt but if I immediately removed the headset bolt and checked the expander plug bolt, it was no longer torqued to spec.

My local shop/Spec dealer (Alameda Bicycles) said that the Crux expander is a flimsly, lightweight version, and they are ordering a more stout version that Spec is uses on Tarmacs to replace it. Fingers crossed!
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  #51  
Old 07-14-2024, 07:57 PM
Jdm Jdm is offline
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Location: Bay Area
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Alameda Bicycle replaced either my Crux expander or compression plug a few weeks ago. Specialized warrantied it. Took over a month. I’m going back in a few weeks to replace my headset because that was warrantied as well.
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  #52  
Old 07-14-2024, 09:46 PM
BeRad BeRad is offline
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This would drive me bonkers. I’m glad you got it figured out.
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  #53  
Old 07-14-2024, 11:14 PM
slowpoke slowpoke is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by glepore View Post
Escape Collective's tech podcast just mentioned that headset issues are apparently an ongoing known Crux thing. Something about the plastic split ring wearing or breaking. Kinda ironic as its there to avoid steerer damage but its prone to fail and lead to...steerer damage.
Just to reinterate: if you're experiencing this problem, it's worth pulling your fork and checking your steerer tube. Cutlass Velo recently had a photo of a carbon fork with a worn steerer likely due to a loose headset.
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  #54  
Old 07-16-2024, 02:42 AM
proletariandan proletariandan is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by slowpoke View Post
Just to reinterate: if you're experiencing this problem, it's worth pulling your fork and checking your steerer tube. Cutlass Velo recently had a photo of a carbon fork with a worn steerer likely due to a loose headset.
Any ideas where the pic is? AB said they looked at mine, which looked fine to me too, but I’m curious where the worn part was.
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  #55  
Old 07-16-2024, 09:17 AM
Turkle Turkle is offline
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I had issues with a faulty expander plug in the past. Horrible stuff! I've found that the $10 Specialized one is absolutely bomb-proof and has always solved all my problems. It's now the one I insist on using on all my bikes. This thing won't go anywhere.

In fact, I think they have a reputation for being difficult to remove. I've never had to do it, but it's worth thinking about.

https://www.specialized.com/us/en/ca...=233350-156699
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  #56  
Old 11-05-2024, 08:38 AM
emjayel emjayel is offline
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Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 61
Has anyone else had this issue? I recently ordered a 2025 crux and I am wondering if I should just put a wolf tooth headset in right away.

thanks!
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  #57  
Old Yesterday, 11:11 AM
Philster Philster is offline
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Posts: 442
Does anyone know which Wolf Tooth headset fits the Crux? Their web site doesn’t say.

Thanks!
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  #58  
Old Yesterday, 12:45 PM
Jdm Jdm is offline
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Join Date: Jan 2024
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 247
IS42 upper

Or install 0.5mm of headset shims under the top headset bearing cap. Specialized told me they may have new caps in stock at the end of Nov. specialized customer service will send you shims now if you need them.
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  #59  
Old Yesterday, 01:44 PM
slowpoke slowpoke is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by proletariandan View Post
Any ideas where the pic is? AB said they looked at mine, which looked fine to me too, but I’m curious where the worn part was.
Just saw this. Here was the screenshot.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg carbon-steerer.jpg (87.9 KB, 47 views)
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  #60  
Old Yesterday, 02:19 PM
benb benb is offline
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Not sure I read this back when it was new but this thread blows my mind.

Just a week or two ago my son had his friend over and they went for an easy trail ride. His friend's bike grenaded it's headset and they came back, lucky he didn't crash.

I tried to help and it ($500 bike) had a headset just like pictured in this thread. I dropped the fork and found zero grease/lubricant on the lower bearings and applied some. Then I went to put it back together and it didn't want to go back together, so I looked at the upper bearings. It had a super flimsy plastic ring that wedged in to hold it together. One of the retainer rings had cracked inside, a bearing had come loose and wedged itself in between the ring and the steerer tube. At that point I had to give up and talk to his parents about taking the bike to the shop. (Hey I did straighten a bent chainring and fix up his derailleurs)

I thought it was super lame a bike at this level had a headset that looked like that... but at least that had a steel steerer tube and there was no real damage. I am blown away to realize now that proprietary headsets on expensive bikes can also be this bad.
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