Building a Salsa Vaya up so ordered the recommended upper and lower cups according to the Salsa website. Hope cups installed at lbs only to discover when installing the fork the sticker on the fork says it’s a 1 1/8 to 1 1/4 taper.
So what headset do I need?
Shirley 1 1/8 to 1 1/2 taper?
Depends on headtube but assuming the steerer goes through the existing head tube and you don’t have internal or semi integrated bearings you probably wanted Hop pic and mix with an external lower cup, probably cup H.
does the crown race fit snugly?
EC44 is 1.5" which is what they say the frame is.
Exactly what I ordered from Hope then rang Hope and they said I do indeed need an EC44 but with a 33 mom crown race which they don’t manufacture. So back to drawing board
I think all 1.5"" bearings are 45deg/45deg, so you should be able to use the Hope headset with a crown race from some other producer (i.e [url= https://www.bike24.com/1.php?content=8;product=213747;menu=1000,4,40;page=7 ]Cane Creek[/url])
Sorted this is what I need
So headset arrived this morning from Charlie but never fitted a headset before. The crown race does not drop down flush with the top of the fork, it can’t expand like the hope ones as it has no slot cut in it.
Do I just push on ahead and use the press to force it over the little aluminium shoulder at the base of the steeerer tube?
You need a crown race fitting tool. But I normally just split the crown race and itll just slip on. However there are mixed feelings about doing this.
If your hoover has metal extension pipes, slip one over the steerer so it’s square on the race, make sure the fork leg ends are protected, and thump the end of the hoover tube. Repeat until race is in right place. Those Cane Creek races with the integral seal don’t split well - the seal might as well not be there if you do. A bit of bearing grease on the steerer will help.
Hoover tubes to fit a crown race !!
Whatever next
There’s a proper tool, but hoover tubes are an accepted DIY substitute... 😀
Or plumbing waste pipe if you have some.
Also works. Basically anything that’s going to fit square and apply force evenly when thumped.
Cheers hoover pipe it is!

