Low stack, well sealed headsets

The bearings in the Cane Creak 10 series on my Patrol have died (Very quickly. Again.)

I’ve bought a Hope Pick ‘n’mix to replace it, but I have a stack height issue relating to the fact I’m trying to fit an EDC to the bike. With the CC and a Ragley Stubbing I can just about get the requisite 3mm of steerer above the stem. However, even though the top cup on the Hope is the same stack height as the CC, the bottom cup is listed as 2mm bigger, which means I’m taking a big gamble with steerer integrity. Not something I want to do.

So, does anyone know of any ZS56 lower cups that are really durable and well sealed, with a circa 4mm stack height? Superstar is 5.5, so not really the saving I want.

Is the 40 series better sealed? As it has the same stack as the 10 series. Google suggests the only difference is better bearings and a metal crown race.

It’s a right bummer that the issue is with the lower cup, as that’s the one that takes all the crap! I guess I could use the Hope and run without a top cap, but I’m not that keen on that tbh.

As an aside – A warning to all those who see that 30mm stack of the Ragley Stubbing as a solution to short steerer woes. All is not what it seems – on the 40mm one, the stem fouls on the top cap of larger diameter (in my case, ZS44) headset top caps, meaning that you have to run a couple of mm spacers under the stem to clear the top cap :/

Shameless bump for the lunchtime crowd! Best solution I think I can find so far is to try some of Cane Creek’s ‘Hellbender’ bearings in my 10 series, but I’m not sure if they’ll fit.

Is the 40 series better sealed?

Only slightly better sealed than a teabag IME.

the bottom cup is listed as 2mm bigger, which means I’m taking a big gamble with steerer integrity. Not something I want to do.

I’m not sure I get what you mean here, can you explain? FWIW the stack height is pretty much governed by bearing height, I don’t think you’ll get anything smaller than that SS one tbh.

Sorry, to be clearer – the ref to steerer integrity was to do with the fact I’m going to thread the top of the steerer for the EDC cap, so having a larger lower assembly that gives me less free steerer takes it veeery close (if not below) the required ‘3mm free steerer above the stem’ that the EDC calls for. If that make sense?

The Cane creek is smaller than the the SS (4mm stack height for the CC vs 5.5 for the SS, and 6 for the Hope) – I suspect a lot of that comes down to the fact they have actual seals as opposed to the CC10, which appears to rely on the magical properties of air.

OK, I give up, what’s an EDC ?

Aye, I get ye now. lower stack stem not an option? if not then you may be stuck with the joy of CC and their imaginary sealing.

EDC is the OneUp tool system that fits in your steerer. It’s ace, but requires some free steerer and a modification to the steerer tube.

NoBeer: unfortunately not. The Stubbing is the defacto choice at 30mm stack. I think the only real options I’ve got are CC’s crap sealing and frequent bearing replacement, or a Hope lower cup and CC’s ‘slamset’ top cup, which is something like 2mm stack.

Ah, right, thanks.

My Fatbike was fitted with a CC40 from new. It managed 5 years of winter/beach usage on the original bearings which I replaced a couple of years ago.

Cane Creek do 40 and 110 bearings, 110 are stainless, there are also aftermarket stainless bearings, might be worth a shot?

Hellbender bearings are apparently compatible across the range (according to cane creek)

Cheers man. Yeah, I’d seen that the Hellbender were Cross compatible, but they don’t explicitly say for the 10 series in the stuff I found (in fact, the CC website seems to about pretty much all mention of the 10!)

Doesn’t seem to be an easy internet source in the UK for them, so I’ve asked a UK CC dealer.

Dartmoor charge?

Scroteroutes, I can only imagine earlier 40 headsets had better/actually had some sealing than the newer ones. I say newer, this is on a 2015 Spectral.

It is possible to upgrade the 10 series with the 40 or 110 crown race and bearings. You can either buy those separately or together as a IS 52/40 lower, which is about £50 for the 110.

The 40 and 110 crown races have a seal fixed on. SJS Cycles have them. 110 is probably better and the same price.

Bird Bikes sell the 110 bearings as a set for a good price. Enduro Bearings also do stainless bearings in the same size.

Brilliant info, thanks very much!

As a slightly cost effective experiment in going to try the Enduro bearings and 110 lower race. If I have to replace the lower every 6/12 months it’s not the end of the world at less than 20 quid I guess.

CC 110 user here and the bearings are still in decent nick after two years of all-season riding, with no shortage of filth and water. I’ve not actually stripped them yet, but this thread has reminded me that it’s overdue, but if the bearings have lasted two years, with the riding I do I’ll be happy with this.

Son has CC40 upper and Hope lower and they’re both in good nick after a year of similar riding to me. I didn’t intend to mix in this way, (I replaced the original CC40 to get a zero-stack lower to reduce standover and Hope was a better price!) but perhaps the Hope lower is better sealed than the CC one.