As soon as the top cap is tightened it binds solid. It’s installed as per instructions 0.4 shims x2 used but unsure what could be the problem?

I have this same headset on other bikes with no trouble…. Any ideas?

Bearing siezed, or installed upside down?

Have you tried it without the shims?

Bearings in correctly… Will remove shims and try!

…done that..no difference at all.

Have you got the crown race installed on the fork? And have you actually got the bearing on the bottom cup?

How tight are you tightening the top cap?

rickon, yes mate everything installed correctly, as I mentioned I’ve another 2 of these headsets all working well and just cant get to the bottom of this one…

@bikeneil literally as soon as its beginning to tighten it stiffens up, no torque at all needed to make it do this…may try new bearings…

Is the head tube straight?

certainly hope so, its a brand new frame!

Should you not be using all 3 shims?
I have Hope h/sets on both my bikes and use all 3 of the supplied shims.

when you say it binds solid, you mean you cannot turn the bars at all or it is harder to turn than it should be.

as above try with more shims to prevent the top cap binding on the upper cup.

I do find hope top caps really sensitive, normally try about 1/4 turn at a time.

just binds so that its waaaay harder to turn than it should be..
I’ll try another shim if I can find it. but as for 1/4 turns, it wont go 1/4 turn before being too stiff.

did you manage to fix it?

Yes I did, I purchased a FSA orbit headset from on one for £18 around the cost of one bearing for the hope. Headset now fixed!

Edit: tried the extra shims it didn’t work which lead me to believe it was bearings goosed hence new headset for the price.