[golgiaparatus]

I have one and have actually never changed it, thus is has been great... The little guy has been acting a little stiff lately so I took it apart. its an FSA BTW.

I have had HS's on numerous bike but this is my first integrated one. I've had King, CC, WTB, and Generic... all of them had dust covers on the bottom by the fork that protected the bearings. This Integrated thing doesnt... is that strange?

It's set up just like any other on top... under the stem is a dust cover with a nice little rubber seal... below that is a shim looking thing (shaped just like the race), then the bearing, the the cup (which is part of the frame)...

On the other side of the Head tube is the bearing and then the race and thats it. The bearing was covered with funk and grit and was barely turning. I cleaned it out and booyah. Working again. But no dust cover? WTF? What if I rode regularly in the rain, that thing would be screwed. Is there a part missing?

BTW the race is unlike ano other I have seen also... It has a little cut in it to help it expand... you can slide it against the crown by hand, that is a new one for me... anyone seen this before?

 

[BurlyShirley]

I had one in my Haro and it worked fine. No dust seal on the bottom. I just made sure to clean it alot.

 

[binary visions]

I had an FSA zero stack headset (which is what I think you have, by the way - an integrated headset has no bearing cups, the bearings rest directly in the frame) with the same setup.

The bearing race I never had a problem with and appreciated the fact that it was easy to install and remove. But I was always a little concerned with the lack of a cover to protect it from splashes and such. I just cleaned it regularly.

 

[Westy]

I thought Brown vs. Board of Ed made all HS integrated?

 

[SkaredShtles]

I think I have one. I should probably clean it and regrease it some time.

 

[golgiaparatus]

I had an FSA zero stack headset (which is what I think you have, by the way - an integrated headset has no bearing cups, the bearings rest directly in the frame) with the same setup.

The bearing race I never had a problem with and appreciated the fact that it was easy to install and remove. But I was always a little concerned with the lack of a cover to protect it from splashes and such. I just cleaned it regularly.

I dont think I have the Zstack. I believe the "cups" are a permanent part of the frame. Giant specifies that the frame uses integrated technology.

 

[binary visions]

I dont think I have the Zstack. I believe the "cups" are a permanent part of the frame. Giant specifies that the frame uses integrated technology.

If it's Giant, it's zero stack. They misuse integrated all the time. Mine was a Zero Stack on the AC2 I had.

If you look closely, you can see the bearing cups. Real integrated headsets don't have bearing cups at all. The bearing "cups" are actually machined directly into the headtube.

You can pop those bearing cups out just like a regular headset.

 

[golgiaparatus]

If it's Giant, it's zero stack. They misuse integrated all the time. Mine was a Zero Stack on the AC2 I had.

If you look closely, you can see the bearing cups. Real integrated headsets don't have bearing cups at all. The bearing "cups" are actually machined directly into the headtube.

You can pop those bearing cups out just like a regular headset.

Mkay. Still the question, dust cover on the bottom?

 

[binary visions]

Mkay. Still the question, dust cover on the bottom?

Still the answer... no it doesn't have one, just wipe it off when you're done riding

 

[golgiaparatus]

Still the answer... no it doesn't have one, just wipe it off when you're done riding

But really... does it have one or not?
















































Sorry I forgot you answered it up top... Thanks BTW, I was wondering why non of the Integrated ones on the FSA PDF manual didnt look like the one I have... now that I am looking in the right section my HS is easily Identified as the Orbit Z. The only thing is the race looks a bit different in the manual. Looks standard and not split like mine. Oh well, like was said above... I'm not going to argue when I dont have to slam the race onto my new fork when it comes in.

I've got an old lizard skin shock boot... I think I'm just going to cut it and cover the lower bearing with it.