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Old 06-20-13 | 10:02 AM
  #7  
Metaluna
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Joined: Aug 2005
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From: New Hampshire

Bikes: Niner RLT 9 RDO, Niner RLT9 Alloy

Originally Posted by FBinNY
You can improve things, but how you do it depends on the headset. On some, you can fit a large rubber band (I use the one that comes on Broccoli) around the lower headset assembly so it closes below the crown races. On others, a disc pressed on below the crown race reduces spray entry, and on some headsets you can trap an O-ring between the crown race and heat tube or bearing skirt.

Either way, you're choice it to improvise a better seal, or drop the fork, and inspect, and grease the lower bearing every 6 months or so.
It sounds like the OP is using an integrated headseat. If so, I think he should be able to replace the lower bearing and crown race with IS-compatible parts from any manufacturer, e.g. a Cane Creek 110 stainless bearing and fork crown race with a sealing gasket around it.

Also, I believe a common trick in the MTB/cyclocross community is to take a section of a large-diameter inner tube and stretch it around the lower fork crown and head tube interface.
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