FSA Orbit Option headset clunk

[ldw222]

i just put one of the new FSA Orbit Option headsets (-1.5 degree cups) in my old Sunday and i really like how it rides and feels but it makes this annoying clunk that scares me a little. the headset installed fine, everything looks straight, and there is no play in the headset but it makes that noise. even when i just pick up the front end a foot or so and drop it. anybody have any ideas out there??? thanks!

[Udi]

http://www.pinkbike.com/news/Tech-Tu...tall-2012.html

There might be something useful in that article if you haven't gone through it already.

[Uncle Cliffy]

Even though FSA was clever in designing the "gimbaled" bearing, they need the care and feeding of an Angleset...

[DhDork]

My '12 Glory came with that same headset. No matter how many times I installed it, measured it straight, and greased it, I could only get it "better". Never completely without "clunk". What I have done to remedy this, and it's only very temporary, is Teflon tape around the bearings. It will go a ride or two without the noise, but comes back as the tape starts to thin out.

From another source, someone claimed FSA told him to loc-tite the bearings in the cups. Haven't given it a shot as I'm worried about seizing the bearings.

[frango]

I nearly managed to get rid of clunkin noise... But still, it happens once, twice per run.
Don't look at laser etched lines. Aline cups to the circular cuts. Don't use thread, measuring tape, slide calliper, or whatever tool. Just use your eye
Fortunately 2013 Glory will use regular headset thanks to changed geometry

[ldw222]

thanks for all the comments on this...it sounds like i might be stuck with that noise. i saw that people had problems with the cane creek headset and was hoping the fsa one would be better as it seemed to be a very simple design. as long as it isn't bad for the bike or dangerous to me then i'll see if i can get used to it. i hate a noisy bike though!

[frango]

As far as I know, there is one angleset on the market, which doesn't use gimble-thingies... K9 Industries. But, this headset is compatible with specific head tube lengths.

[louevilcyclist]

I have the Cane Creek Angleset that came on my V10 and it does the same thing. I have to take it out, clean and re grease the gold cups for it to stop and then a few rides later it comes back. I'm probably going to pull it out and sell the damn thing and go with a standard Cane Creek 110 headset and be done with it.

[Uncle Cliffy]

As far as I know, there is one angleset on the market, which doesn't use gimble-thingies... K9 Industries. But, this headset is compatible with specific head tube lengths.

Take a look at Works Components. They will custom build cups depending on your needs. I'm going to have them make a headset for my Trance X soon...

[allen]

Take a look at Works Components. They will custom build cups depending on your needs. I'm going to have them make a headset for my Trance X soon...

I've been running the works 1.5 deg cups on my Sunday without any issues. I would recommend them.

Al

[NoUseForAName]

Only person i know who tried this got so frustrated, he threw the headset across the garage and then boxed it back up and returned it as garbage.

Avoid IMO. Which is a shame because usually FSA is spot on for quality.

[marshalolson]

way more issues with my FSA option than with my angleset. actually no issues at all with the angleset, and i installed the FSA with the exact same method, tools and prep.

[demo 9]

IT was great for the first day, tampered with it for a while until i got fed up and took it off. Anybody want to buy it?

[IH8Rice]

I'm probably going to pull it out and sell the damn thing and go with a standard Cane Creek 110 headset and be done with it.

great idea

[Udi]

Probably not very useful now, but for anyone considering either the CC Angleset or Orbit Option, I'd strongly advise avoiding them and using a fixed set of angle cups instead - such as the Works Components or K9 Industries.

These cups are headtube length specific and everything is entirely fixed in nature, so they don't have, and don't develop the problems that the CC and FSA ones do.