Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 13,497
Likes: 948
From: Boston-ish, MA
Bikes: 72 Peugeot UO-8, 82 Peugeot TH8, 87 Bianchi Brava, 76? Masi Grand Criterium, 74 Motobecane Champion Team, 86 & 77 Gazelle champion mondial, 81? Grandis, 82? Tommasini, 83 Peugeot PF10
How was the headset fit before you took it apart. Maybe a PO assembled it poorly or forgot a spacer.
What they said about, if either the head tube races or the crown race weren't seated properly the top nut would lock down sooner, not later.
Are you sure you a reasonable number of bearings top and bottom?
FWIW, spacers are a few $ from Velo Orange.
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Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
jimmuller