Brake-Fork and Headset-Fork Questions
 

Okay, a couple of what should be pretty simple questions regarding my current build:

First off, a headset installation question. The headset is a Cane Creek S-2 1" headset. When installing the compression ring (part 5 in the diagram below) onto the steerer tube, it does not slide down far enough for the top lip of the ring to make contact with the top surface of the upper cartridge bearing (part 6). It seems as though the diameter of the steerer tube is just slightly big enough to expand the compression ring so that it won't slide down completely.

Is this normal or not? I have Cane Creek headsets on two other bikes, and on each of those the compression ring slides loosely all the way down so that the lip of the ring meets the upper bearing.

The fork is a Reynolds Ouzo Pro with a carbon steerer. Here's the diagram from Cane Creek, with notations by me.....

http://www.smugmug.com/photos/271370703_RprYA-O.jpg


And question two: I'm installing an Ultegra SL brake on this fork (Reynolds Ouzo Pro). Reynolds includes a brake nut with the fork. The brake nut from Reynolds is longer than the brake nut included on the Ultegra brake caliper. Which nut should I use?

I would guess that I should use the nut from Reynolds, but I just want to be sure.


Thanks in advance for any advice I may receive.

Not sure about the headset but use Reynold's brake nut. The Shimano recessed nut is sized for a typical metal fork crown thichness and carbon forks are often much thicker so the longer nut is required. My Kestrel EMS Pro fork came with a longer nut and instructions that it had to be used. They were right.

My Easton EC90SLX fork didn't come with a special nut but the rear hole in the fork crown is recessed much more than usual so the shorter standard nut works fine.

Thanks, HillRider. I was kind of guessing that that was the reasoning for the included nut, but Reynolds didn't specify in their instruction manual or on their web site's FAQs. It's nice to get some confirmation.