Bicycle Mechanics - Mysterious O-Ring

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Bohh
03-10-08, 07:32 PM
Hi all,

I was trying to adjust my headset today and while it was loose accidentally bumped the front wheel. Everything shifted upward and when I looked down I noticed a large O-ring that I hadn't seen before. I've looked at instruction manuals and everything and can't figure out where this goes. I see no grooves that it will fit in and when I put it in between the top cap and frame as pictured the head set doesn't move smoothly. Where does it go?

http://img384.imageshack.us/img384/486/dsc02046mo6.jpg

http://img385.imageshack.us/img385/6279/dsc02047gh8.jpg

http://img385.imageshack.us/img385/8283/dsc02048pb8.jpg

http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/1899/dsc02049cn7.jpg

http://img385.imageshack.us/img385/4397/dsc02050sj4.jpg

Thanks,

-Mike

Rev.Chuck
03-10-08, 08:11 PM
Did you pull the tapered cap(the one with Cane Creek on it) off and make sure there is not a groove there? I remember an o-ring on it.
Bohh
03-11-08, 08:37 AM
I looked at the bottom of it, without taking it off and it's flat with no groove. It doesn't sit around the outside like in picture 4 does it?

cyccommute
03-11-08, 08:50 AM
I looked at the bottom of it, without taking it off and it's flat with no groove. It doesn't sit around the outside like in picture 4 does it?

Unlikely. It may sit in a groove against the steer tube. Grease and other liquids could make it swell. Pull the tapered cap off and look for a ring. If there is one and the ring is swollen, you'll need a new o-ring.
Bohh
03-11-08, 10:40 AM
I spoke with someone from CaneCreek and showed him the photos. He was very helpful. He said that that O-ring is most likely an extra O-ring that shouldn't be there and I should take it out and try and seat everything. I'll give that a shot.

I can't get it around my head though that it would be an extra, how would it get in there? It worked fine before (with it in there I presume.) The only reason it came out is because I bumped the front wheel while everything is loose. What if I take it out and it's supposed to be in there somewhere? Could it be from deeper in the headset somehow?
rogerstg
03-11-08, 10:53 AM
Maybe it was on the outside of the assembly covering the small gap between the headset cover and the steerer tube. Sort of like a dust guard that you hadn't noticed.
Bohh
03-11-08, 11:26 AM
That's what I'm leaning to right now. Is that a common thing to do/see?

Below you can see the underside of the top cap. No grooves at all. The next photo shows what it looks like with everything but the O-Ring. I doubt that is correct. Next shows the o-ring in that space, like you say as a dust cover.

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/8188/dsc02052na3.jpg

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/5374/dsc02056oh6.jpg

http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/9660/dsc02057zq6.jpg