Hello all,

I just bought a new 2009 Look 566 frame + fork and the person who sold it to me also included a Ritchey Pro integrated headset. I have an expander to go into the carbon steerer tube.

The steerer tube runs straight down, then flares at the crown of the fork, so there is no need for a bottom race.

The problem is that I cannot eliminate the shake in the fork. When I compress the headset together, I can eliminate 80% of the shake on the road, but then the fork becomes stiff. If I loosen the compression a little, the fork moves fluidly, but the shake returns.

Also, as thanks for my efforts, the top cap for the headset has now chipped away at the top of the enamel on the steerer tube.

One person has suggested I need a special Look headset.

Another person has suggested that the top cap should be just above the head tube, which means I need another one or two thin metal spacers inside the headset.

Photos attached.

Can anyone help? Thanks in advance.

Just one further bit of info:

The Ritchey headset bearings are printed '45x45' but the Look specs website shows 'gradient 36 int, 45 ext' (https://www.lookcycle.com/media/catal...i/file_2_3.pdf).

Could this be a serious headset mismatch?

the top cap should be 2mm or more higher than the steerer tube... if it's not, do that, and see if that fixes it...

i wouldn't know anything about Look but 45x45 (campagnola standard?) and 36x45 (cane creek standard) are very distinct. You'll need to be sure which of the 2 it is.

that would be a big problem. looks like CC uses a FSA headset on their 566's but I can't tell which one... did you buy your frame from a shop? I'd get a new frame if theres any damage

oh don't panic the poor dear. it is a new frameset so it won't be damaged. It hasn't been ridden with a loose headset for ages and ages.

Mine came with the FSA headset and do not have any problems whatsoever. Understand that is the standard one that comes from factory, but don't have it's size though. Good luck

Problem solved. Thanks everyone for your responses.

There were two issues in the end. The first was that the Ritchey Pro headset had 45 x 45 dimensions which were not compatible with the Look frameset's 36 x 45 dimensions.

The second issues was that the headset supplied to me was missing what are apparently called 'bearing thrust rings', which are thin, shaped, metallic discs, one for the top and one for the bottom of the head tube.

A trip to a good bike store in Sydney confirmed the first headset issue and immediately spotted the second. I now have a carbon FSA headset and my new bike is smooooth!

They also added a thin alloy spacer above my stem, which assists in the compression of the assembly upon the carbon steerer tube. I touched up the paint as required.

Now, all I have to do is figure out is where to fix the wicker basket to my handlebars...