Crown Race

[jacksonpt]

What exactly is the purpose of a the race? I was putting my old bike back together, and noticed I didn't have the race for the headset (I was under the impression that all headsets used a race). When I took the bike appart, I was very meticulous about keeping the parts in together and clean, so I'm surprised to see that I'm missing the race, assuming I had the race to begin with.

If it matters, the headset is about 4 years old, a 1" aheadset. It's very possible that the guy who assembled the bike when I bought it screwed things up. If that's the case, and I rode the bike fairly hard for 3 years without a race, what problems could I have encounted?

[Jeff 151]

Did you look on the fork? The race is the smooth surface that the lower headset bearings sit and roll on.

[jacksonpt]

Did you look on the fork? The race is the smooth surface that the lower headset bearings sit and roll on.
Yea, I checked.

[Jeff 151]

Not sure how familiar you are with this stuff, but sometimes the race appears to be part of the fork.

[jacksonpt]

I'm not all that familiar, but the race on my other bike is pretty obvious. I'm not sure the proper terms, but in order (from top down), I've got...

the steerer cap (that screws into the start nut)
2 spacers
stem
top headset cup
bearings
headtube
bearings
bottom headset cup
fork

[BikeGeek]

I'd think if you were riding without one, you'd have noticed some play in your headset.

I guess if they were sealed bearings and you had the stem and top cap tightened down snug, you could get away with it and not notice.

[jacksonpt]

I have these bearings...

http://www.nexternal.com/icycles/images/hsbearing1.jpg

Are they sealed bearings (despite not being sealed)?

Cartridge bearings are not visible, right? There is like a blue pliable casing around them (a cartridge)?

[Wumpus]

I don't see how the bearings would work if the race isn't there. They rest on the race. Sealed/cartridge bearings might work without the race???

http://www.bikemojo.com/photos/data/500/700HeadsetRace.jpg

[jacksonpt]

I don't see how the bearings would work if the race isn't there. They rest on the race. Sealed/cartridge bearings might work without the race???

and...

I'm not all that familiar, but the race on my other bike is pretty obvious. I'm not sure the proper terms, but in order (from top down), I've got...

the steerer cap (that screws into the start nut)
2 spacers
stem
top headset cup
bearings
headtube
bearings
bottom headset cup
fork


So could I just be confused? Could what I'm calling the bottom headset cup be the race? I'll try to get a pic when I get home.

[binary visions]

Jackson... what it should look like is:

stem
top cap (over the top of the bearings)
bearings (dropped or pressed into headset cup)
top headset cup (pressed into frame)
headtube
bottom headset cup (pressed into frame)
bearings (dropped or pressed into headset cup)
<possible bottom cap>
<possible crown race>
fork

Now, on my Cane Creek XXc, the bottom cap IS the crown race - it has a tight press fit on the steerer of the fork. So, if the bottom cap for your headset has a tight press fit with your fork, it may not have a crown race like Wumpus is talking about.

If you are supposed to have a crown race, and don't have it or use it, you risk a loose front end, prematurely wearing your bearings, and possibly ovalizing your headtube since you're knocking your bottom cup around more.

[BikeGeek]

So could I just be confused? Could what I'm calling the bottom headset cup be the race? I'll try to get a pic when I get home.

Here's what you should have:
http://www.parktool.com/images/repair_help/headtype30.jpg

The "pressed frame races" are your headset cups. They press in to the headtube on your frame.

Obviously, the star nut is still in your fork steer tube.

The crown race should have been on your steer tube pressed up against your crown like in the photo Wumpus posted.

[jacksonpt]

Now, on my Cane Creek XXc, the bottom cap IS the crown race - it has a tight press fit on the steerer of the fork. So, if the bottom cap for your headset has a tight press fit with your fork, it may not have a crown race like Wumpus is talking about.
OK, so it's possible that I might not have a race for this heaset then? FWIW... on the hollowpoint (which has a race), the race is a very tight fit on the steerer (i.e. takes some "encouragement" to get on and off), while the bottom headset cap fits over the steerer very smoothly. On my mongoose with the aheadset (bike and headset in question), the bottom headset cap has a very tight fit over the steerer (almost exactly the same as the way the race fits on the hollowpoint).

Does that sound like a possible no race situation?

[Toshi]

yes, it sounds possible that the "bottom headset cap" as you describe it is also the crown race.

[Nate at RIT]

Seems like you would've noticed if it didn't have the race on the fork. And FYI, it should take some "encouragement" to get it on and off the fork. If you can get it on w/o a hammer and some sort of implement, then it's time for a new race (it's stretched out).