Vitus 992 Headset Question

[Campagman]

Fairly sure its the right fork, comments seem to lead to an incorrect fork crown which is making the lower race too 'high'

Yes, I now believe the 2 deep plastic 'rubber band' like seals are missing

 

[mdvineng]

https://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=159082
See this thread for pictures of the lower race etc

 

[Gtpulse]

Fairly sure its the right fork, comments seem to lead to an incorrect fork crown which is making the lower race too 'high'

Yes, I now believe the 2 deep plastic 'rubber band' like seals are missing

In the photo of the fork *in the link posted by @mdvineng which appears to be of a bike of someone from here who may be able to advise better @zerogravitas the crown of the actual fork looks machined to integrate the race.





In the photo of your forks there is no recess.

 

[mdvineng]

If I remember correctly the none recessed forks used a Mavic made headset with lower roller bearings and not balls.

Found this comment just now.

Magic and Stronglight both had roller bearing headsets in the 90s. The Vitus 992 frame also had a proprietary integrated headset with roller bearings- good luck finding spares.

 

[zerogravitas]

If I have a moment I will try pulling my 992's headset apart at the weekend to take some photos/measurements for you!

 

[Campagman]

If I have a moment I will try pulling my 992's headset apart at the weekend to take some photos/measurements for you!

Most kind, thank you

 

[jim haseltine]

For those interested, I found a picture of a 992 fork crown.

 

[Campagman]

Thanks Jim, can't tell if mine have that rising profile upto the steerer tube, I'd have the pull the crown race off. Can't do that at the moment.

I'm thinking it probably does but then has a mismatched crown race making it sit slightly higher, thereby open up the gap when installed. I believe these headsets very prone to failing and spares are almost impossible to find.

I have arrived a fix via some 3d printing and recycled lip seal.
3d printing on ebay £6 plus postage, 2 pieces - the band cover for the top nut, very thin, so slightly stretchy, fits nicely
The lower piece being a simple plastic spacer ring 48 od x 42 id and 2.3 mm thick, then centred on the crown race via trimmed down lip seal (likely from a bottom bracket or inside of a free-hub).

 

[zerogravitas]

In the photo of the fork *in the link posted by @mdvineng which appears to be of a bike of someone from here who may be able to advise better @zerogravitas the crown of the actual fork looks machined to integrate the race.

...........

In the photo of your forks there is no recess.

With apologies for the thread dredge, I know this was last year and Campagman seems to have found a solution!

I've been working on my Vitus so I thought I'd post some pictures for completeness' sake if anyone needs the reference in future.

Gtpulse was right on the money; my 992's fork crown is machined to create a recess that the crown race sits down into.

I would look out for a Vitus fork with this machining present if you want to get the perfect line from headtube to fork crown. I wonder what the non-machined versions were supplied with - later 992 models with a slightly different headset arrangement or as fork only for more traditional frames?