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Compression plug and integrated headset

2789 Views 6 Replies 5 Participants Last post by RaiderHater, Apr 1, 2006

Earthpig

Discussion Starter · Mar 6, 2006

I'm having ongoing loose headset problems with the integrated headset on my Salsa Campeon frame. The Campeon fork has a carbon steerer which, of course, requires the use of a compression plug rather than a traditional star nut. I've been using a Cane Creek IS-6 headset since the bike was new last spring. Recently, I decided to change my stem and now am having serious issues getting the headset to tighten back down. It seems like regardless of how much I torque down the compression plug, I can't get rid of play in the headset. What am I missing here? I don't want to reef too hard on the compression plug nut, for fear of damaging the steerer, but I also don't want to ovalize the headtube because the headset is not tight enough. Any tips or tricks out there for this setup? FWIW, I'm using a Problem Solvers compression plug. Thanks.

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merckx56

· #2 · Mar 6, 2006

The stem likely isn't as tall as our old stem, so the top cap isn't pulling down on the stem itself. Try one or all of these three fixes.

1)Put a spacer under the stem to make up the difference.
2)Put a spacer on top of the stem, under the top cap.
3)Tap the bottom/expander part of the compression device down a little inside of the steerer tube. Be very carfeul though, as it may drop all the way in the steerer.

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TurboTurtle

· #3 · Mar 6, 2006

Earthpig said:
I'm having ongoing loose headset problems with the integrated headset on my Salsa Campeon frame. The Campeon fork has a carbon steerer which, of course, requires the use of a compression plug rather than a traditional star nut. I've been using a Cane Creek IS-6 headset since the bike was new last spring. Recently, I decided to change my stem and now am having serious issues getting the headset to tighten back down. It seems like regardless of how much I torque down the compression plug, I can't get rid of play in the headset. What am I missing here? I don't want to reef too hard on the compression plug nut, for fear of damaging the steerer, but I also don't want to ovalize the headtube because the headset is not tight enough. Any tips or tricks out there for this setup? FWIW, I'm using a Problem Solvers compression plug. Thanks.

Sorry if this is aleady knowm, but I can't tell just reading your post. The stem is loose when you tighten the top cap screw, right?
Loosen the stem.
Tighten the cap screw to set the headset tension.
Tighten the stem to hold it in place.

TF

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Earthpig

Discussion Starter · #4 · Mar 7, 2006

already tried them all

merckx56 said:
The stem likely isn't as tall as our old stem, so the top cap isn't pulling down on the stem itself. Try one or all of these three fixes.

1)Put a spacer under the stem to make up the difference.
2)Put a spacer on top of the stem, under the top cap.
3)Tap the bottom/expander part of the compression device down a little inside of the steerer tube. Be very carfeul though, as it may drop all the way in the steerer.

It has a slightly shorter stack height than the old stem, which I accounted for using one additional 5mm spacer. All's good if I put the spacer under the stem, but that puts my handlebar too high. If I try to put the additional spacer between the cap and the top of the stem, the headset will not tighten down for sh*t. I've never had this problem with a normal headset/starnut combo.

Ah, frick. I guess another trip to the shop is in order...maybe I need the steerer tube cut down some more, because this stupid compression plug only seems to work if the top cap (which is an integrated piece of the Problem Solver compression plug - see photo) rests directly on the top of the stem itself - it doesn't seem to work if you put a spacer between the top cap and the stem. "Problem Solver" my hairy butt!

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Earthpig

Discussion Starter · #5 · Mar 7, 2006

TurboTurtle said:
Sorry if this is aleady knowm, but I can't tell just reading your post. The stem is loose when you tighten the top cap screw, right?
Loosen the stem.
Tighten the cap screw to set the headset tension.
Tighten the stem to hold it in place.

TF

Thanks for the input; I guess my post wasn't clear that I'm kinda past those basics. I think that the combo of an integrated headset and a carbon steerer just doesn't work for diddly squat.

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cbuchanan

· #6 · Mar 24, 2006

I am using the FSA compression plug with the Cane Creek IS-8 carbon headset. I did have to readjust it after the first couple of rides but have not had a problem since.

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RaiderHater

· #7 · Apr 1, 2006

Profile Design plug @ bikeman.com

I am having the same trouble and found this thread from doing a search. If you haven't fixed your problem check out the profile design plug at bikeman, it looks like it should hold better than most.

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