What (if any) are the disadvantages of a split crown race for a cartridge bearing headset?

It seems such a good idea from the point of view of the home fettler without precisely the right tool that I need telling there is a good reason not to have them. 🙂

Can’t think of any

There’s a tiny gap that allows crap in. I plug it with grease. The bearing seals should stop crap getting further anyway, but pay it safe.

I think they are a great idea.

I like them, annoys me that more headset manufacturers don’t do them

16 month old hope headset, serviced for the first time and barely needed anything doing – great idea split crown races!

I split crown races myself (hacksaw) if on a cartridge bearing headset – never had any problems.

Clubber, that is a simple but brilliant solution to the problem of my non-existent crown-race fitting tool. I am indebted to you. 🙂

Was it also you who suggested some while ago taking a hacksaw to the hose guides on an inbred frame? If so, thanks too for that plan. I am going to be busy later.

I’d kinda been pondering doing that myself.
Guess I will in future, it’ll save me a lot of effort 🙂

16 month old hope headset, serviced for the first time and barely needed anything doing – great idea split crown races!

How does a split crown race make sevicing easier?
It doesn’t, does it?
🙂

LOL – yeah, BD, that was me too. Useful tool, hacksaws 🙂

I prefer a full crown race myself. Having a hol in one of the worst spots on a bike that mud ad crap gets seems a bad idea to me. I have jusy gt an FSA XL2 which has a split race and I wish it was just a normal one. I will be sticking a lizard skin cover on it I foun it my spres box though.

Very muddy round here where I ride and I’ve not noticed any difference in longevity of headsets with a split race. I do pack with plenty of grease though so that should act as a barrier.

BigDummy, happy to lend you my crown race fitting tool if you’d like. It’s a very satisfying lump of metal to use. 🙂

It would also provide the opportunity for me to test ride your Big Dummy, given that we’ve only been talking about it on and (mostly) off for over a year!

How does a split crown race make sevicing easier?
It doesn’t, does it?

Actually Pete, my point being was that in 16 months, a split crown race didn’t allow all sorts of crap into the headset so therefore doesn’t have that as a downside. Which seems to be the only theoretical downside to them. Read the post immediately before mine for some context.

When I recently changed my forks over, it took a simple and very gentle tap with a screw driver to remove and was replaced by hand.

So phnarrrr! 😛

Aidy – Member

I like them, annoys me that more headset manufacturers don’t do them

Cane Creek own the patent and no one else wants to pay them to use the design.

Cane Creek own the patent and no one else wants to pay them to use the design.

Could have sworn a few other people did them, I know I’ve seen Hopes with them. And the Cane Creek C2 certainly doesn’t have one…

Aidy – Member

Cane Creek own the patent and no one else wants to pay them to use the design.

Could have sworn a few other people did them, I know I’ve seen Hopes with them. And the Cane Creek C2 certainly doesn’t have one…

FSA used to do them too, but Cane Creek started to play hardball.

Are you sure that’s a genuine C2?

I cant see why there needs to be a noticeable gap after they go on, surely they could machine them slightly o/s to allow for the width of the saw blade; & hence to close up to the correct dia once in place.
They are a bonus though.

As mentioned my Hope has one..

WTB was the first I saw with one. Are you making stuff up Druidh?

Cane Creek own the Aheadset patent – which is the split compression ring, not for a split crown race.

DezB – Member

WTB was the first I saw with one. Are you making stuff up Druidh?

jonathan – Member

Cane Creek own the Aheadset patent – which is the split compression ring, not for a split crown race.

My bad

And the patent is the reason that Shimano don’t make aheadsets I believe…

Looks like the patent expires next year anyway