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New bike paranoia...

(17 posts)
  • Started 10 years ago by Its_Me_Knees
  • Latest reply from kaputnik
  • This topic is resolved

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  1. Its_Me_Knees
    Member

    My B'twin and my MTB both have ahead sets with wee black grommets(?) on top. Much like this one:

    My new steed looks like it has the grommet missing on the headset, and a recess is thus exposed with a hex bolt at the bottom of it. The hole in the (big) top cap from where I think the grommet is missing also seems to be hexagonal. It's an FSA headset and the top cap looks very much like this:

    ie. the hex bolt isn't remotely flush with the top of the (big) cap.

    Interestingly, the FSA chainset looks like it has an endcap missing too, but seems to be sold that way:

    So.... am I being daft/paranoid, or is anything functional missing from either the headset or the chainset? (and if it is, where do I get a replacement?).

    Many thanks, as ever, in advance, to the CCE community for any insight/advice.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  2. Smudge
    Member

    If you can see the head of the allen bolt holding the top cap on, and there is no play in the headset, I wouldn't worry :-) tbh I haven't seen one with a cover on the allen bolt before, I must pay more attention!
    Hollow axles are often left open imho to show off that they are hollow ;-)

    Posted 10 years ago #

  3. allebong
    Member

    I don't think I've ever seen a covered hollow axle - but then how would you know?

    The grommet on the headset bolt is for neatness/appearance and also to stop rainwater from pooling in the bolt head and recess. Might be worth covering up with electrical tape if the bike will be seeing bad weather, otherwise it's of no importance.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  4. dg145
    Member

    They're both the same on my Cannondale cross bike - which also has FSA cranks.

    The exposed headset bolt is looking a bit weather beaten I have to say, though.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  5. Its_Me_Knees
    Member

    Thanks all.

    @Smudge: I don't think the allen bolt IS holding the top cap on; it is well recessed, not flush with the big top cap, which I why I thought there 'could' be something more fundamental missing. Also seems a bit naff to leave something which, as Allebong says, is going to accumulate rainwater. However, the whole assembly seems tight enough, so I'll dig out the insulating tape...

    Posted 10 years ago #

  6. Kenny
    Member

    The assembly will feel tight due to the bolts which are holding the stem on to the front fork steer tube. However, the top cap should still be screwed on tightly so that it compresses the stem down just that little bit more. If the top cap is not screwed in, I'd be going back to the shop to ask questions.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  7. Cyclops
    Member

    Your new bike uses a compression plug rather than a star fangled nut you've got on your old bikes so it's meant to be like that. The hex bolt you can see recessed expands the compression plug to grip the inside of your steerer tube - you shouldn't need to adjust this. You should find a slightly larger hex key will fit the hole in the top cap - this is how you adjust any play in your headset bearings.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  8. Kenny
    Member

    Oooh - didn't know of such a thing! Unless I'm misunderstanding, it seems to serve a different purpose to the ones I'm used to?

    Posted 10 years ago #

  9. Cyclops
    Member

    "Unless I'm misunderstanding it seems to serve a different purpose..."

    No, they both do the same thing - allowing you to tighten the top cap to compress the headset bearings and adjust headset play. Compression plugs were developed initially for use in carbon steerers, where using a star fangled nut is a very bad idea, but are now sometimes used in bikes with metal steerers as they're a lot easier to fit and remove.

    If you want completely different try something like a USE Ring-go-star, which I've got on one of my bikes, where the sole purpose of the top cap is to prevent stuff falling down your steerer.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  10. Smudge
    Member

    Cheers Cyclops, every day is a schoolday! :-)

    Posted 10 years ago #

  11. Cyclingmollie
    Member

    Top marks for question presentation Its_Me_Knees. Even I could follow what was being discussed.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  12. Its_Me_Knees
    Member

    @Cyclops: Thanks for that...all makes sense. Its a full carbon bike (Moda Echo, £200 off from EBC....I am soooo in the dog house with Her Indoors.....) so I guess the compression plug is a given from what you say. You're spot on about the slightly larger hex key fitting the top cap hole too. Can't help but feel there should be something a bit more bespoke than insulating tape covering that recess though...

    @Cyclingmollie: New Bike Paranoia drives one to these lengths!

    Posted 10 years ago #

  13. wingpig
    Member

    "Can't help but feel there should be something a bit more bespoke than insulating tape covering that recess though..."

    I can't remember the name but Wilmington's Cow bought a wee clock from a place which make functional adornments for stem caps like thermometers, compasses and clocks, though their accuracy/durability was questioned and I don't know if they did compression-plug-cap versions as well as standard star-nuts.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  14. allebong
    Member

    Insulating tape is a practical but admittedly not boutique option. You can get rubber plugs like this that should press in if the size is right. Search for 'rubber bung' for more options and colours.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  15. Kenny
    Member

    Search for 'rubber bung' for more options and colours

    I wouldn't do that search while at work, mind you ;)

    Posted 10 years ago #

  16. crowriver
    Member

    The hex bolt you can see recessed expands the compression plug to grip the inside of your steerer tube

    So, a bit like an old style quill stem, then.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  17. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Interestingly, the FSA chainset looks like it has an endcap missing too, but seems to be sold that way

    The hollow-axle cranks that go with external cup bottom brackers are exactly that - hollow. I've never seen one that has an end cap, although that's not to say such a thing doesn't exist.

    Posted 10 years ago #

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