The Race for the Cr...
 

The Race for the Crown is too tight!

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Trying to make a new race,go on my FOX 36 (2020), its not split and needs to go another 5or 6mm.

 I put it in boiling water, and greased the frozen fork,tried tapping it down with an adjustable wrench but  the race is ally too, so I couldnt wack it

The only thing I can try tomorrow is start again with a big tube of the correct ID

Will it FIT,or have I missed something obvious, like the crown is not made for Fox?

Can I cut it and use it as a split race?


 
Posted : 17/02/2026 6:27 pm
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Assuming they are sealed bearings just pop a small cut in the race with a hacksaw.


 
Posted : 17/02/2026 6:31 pm
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Cut it and smooth the edges - fit the cut section of the crown race at 90° or 270° onto fork (you don’t want the cut section top/bottom) 


 
Posted : 17/02/2026 6:37 pm
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Thanks to Soma and cyclistM! Thats a weight off my mind, I'll be able to get some sleep tonight. Maybie

Was  I being too optimistic hoping it'd fit?


 
Posted : 17/02/2026 7:19 pm
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I don't think it's that tight, deffo be William next, Charlie won't live long enough for George to be a shoe in


 
Posted : 17/02/2026 7:23 pm
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Ahhh, a new 'Crown race' thread. It's been too long!

I just tap them down with something 'soft' - usually the handle of a rubber mallet, tapped with a hammer. There's a 'lip' before a flattened section. Once over the lip, it's all downhill.....


 
Posted : 18/02/2026 12:45 am
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As above, just done one that seemed too tight. Got an old bearing sat it on the new crown race at tapped it down with a hammer working my way round so as not to push one side down too much.


 
Posted : 18/02/2026 9:12 am
 mert
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Posted by: alric
Was  I being too optimistic hoping it'd fit?
Modern big steerer forks there's too much difference between this size and the next size for any confusion. You've either got the right size/parts or its painfully obvious that you haven't. In the olden days we had two or three different sizes of 1" headset that were *almost* compatible. But not.

You probably need to hit it harder or hit it with the right tool.

 


 
Posted : 18/02/2026 9:24 am
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Posted by: mert

You probably need to hit it harder or hit it with the right tool.

Tube, hammer, support underneath the fork crown with one hand (don't rest the dropouts on a bench and then welt it 😉 )

https://www.parktool.com/en-int/product/crown-race-setting-system-crs-1

https://www.parktool.com/en-int/product/crown-race-setting-system-oversized-crs-15-2


 
Posted : 18/02/2026 10:14 am
 Olly
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Its only a 45 degree taper, for the bearing to sit on, so splitting it and expanding that ring a few thou" shouldnt matter? its still 45 degrees on the taper, and the preload on the bearing will hold it all in place. 


 
Posted : 18/02/2026 11:52 am