Can anyone help, I’ve purchased a Sintesi frame with an Integrated Richey headset from a well know 'net shop'. Fantastic, I was fitting my forks all was fine until I found that the compression washer was missing, the shop sent me a compression washer, but the wrong type, it won't go snug on the fork steerer and doesn't fit the shape of the bearings. I have sent my Richey Headset back to Merlin and they have told me that:-

That is how all of these headsets are. They are very basic things and don't seal too well.

Is this true Richey Headsets don't seal too well, and leave a rocking movement?

No headset should leave a rocking movement that will bugger your frame and/or forks. A lad I know believed stiff when they told him that after they bodged his brand new super 8 Boxxer combo!

Stretched headtube time