Whenever I see that issue, it is because someone who doesn't know much about bikes was putting the bearings in and they put the bearing(s) in upside down assuming you have caged bearings.

If you put the cages upside down in place, when you tighten down the headset, it will feel loose and then as soon as it tightens up, it will get very hard to turn and crunchy.

Bearings with cages can only be inserted one way.