Mysterious O-Ring
 

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

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.

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.

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?

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.

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