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Spectral CF loose Headset

3508 Views 7 Replies 6 Participants Last post by gumby2, 7 d ago

kill phil

Discussion Starter · Feb 9, 2022

I'm waiting for Canyon to respond to my warranty request regarding my constantly loose headset. I'm curious if anyone else has had this issue.

Here's what I've done so far without success....

To stop the creaking headset, which I have done successfully, I have....

replaced lower bearing and crown race w/ a Hope
replaced top cap w/ Cane Creek
replaced plastic stem spacers with aluminum

The headset still will not get tight so I took everything apart and cleaned the headtube. While it's "dry" I dropped the bearings into the frame and I notice a slight amount of side to side wiggle. I wrapped the bearings with a thin layer of plumbers Teflon tape, greased the crap out of the headtube and reinstalled the bearings. This seemed to help but within minutes of riding, the tape is destroyed and the lose headset is back. I've tightened the stem bolt well beyond the recommended torque without any luck.

I'm curious if anyone else has dealt with this issue and if it was resolved.

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b rock

· #2 · Feb 9, 2022

Haven't had this issue with a spectral CF 2018; I have always used plastic spacers (slammed), but after I replaced the stock stem with one with lower stack, I needed another small spacer.

I have noted that the recommended torque max is 1.5-2 Nm for the stem cap, but I don't recall if I had to over tighten it.

What year is yours? (I don't know if the headsets have changed)

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kill phil

Discussion Starter · #3 · Feb 10, 2022

b rock said:
Haven't had this issue with a spectral CF 2018; I have always used plastic spacers (slammed), but after I replaced the stock stem with one with lower stack, I needed another small spacer.

I have noted that the recommended torque max is 1.5-2 Nm for the stem cap, but I don't recall if I had to over tighten it.

What year is yours? (I don't know if the headsets have changed)

My Spectral is a 2021. I am probably getting close to 5 Nm if I were to guess (converted steer tube to accomodate a OneUp EDC kit and use a cassette tool w/ a 1/2" drive and don't have a torque wrench that fits it).

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richt2000

· #4 · Feb 13, 2022

There is a LOT of talk on this on the facebook spectral owner group. Its a very common problem which hasn’t been fixed by canyon

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korbzy

· #5 · Apr 21, 2022

I have this issue on my 2022 CF 9, I've ordered a new ritchey drop in upper and lower bearing with some ALU spacers, ill post how it goes(DM in 2 months if I forget to reply here)

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BenShredding

· #6 · 12 mo ago

korbzy said:
I have this issue on my 2022 CF 9, I've ordered a new ritchey drop in upper and lower bearing with some ALU spacers, ill post how it goes(DM in 2 months if I forget to reply here)

Were you able to solve the problem with the Ritchey drop in? I have the same problem with my 2021 CF 8.

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korbzy

· #7 · 12 mo ago

BenShredding said:
Were you able to solve the problem with the Ritchey drop in? I have the same problem with my 2021 CF 8.

Yes mate, I can confirm it resolved the issue by replacing the upper bearing and installation of new aluminium spacers. Been riding for 6 weeks now with no issues.

Ritchey 1.5" Upper Headset

I strongly suggest you email canyon too and inform them of the issue. They continuously told me they haven't heard about it before and it was just me...

Also something to add, the plastic upper cover had damaged the paint on my frame, it left a groove there, luckily it's only the paint and hasn't damaged the carbon yet

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Reactions: 1

gumby2

· #8 · 7 d ago

kill phil said:
I'm waiting for Canyon to respond to my warranty request regarding my constantly loose headset. I'm curious if anyone else has had this issue.

Here's what I've done so far without success....

To stop the creaking headset, which I have done successfully, I have....

replaced lower bearing and crown race w/ a Hope

replaced top cap w/ Cane Creek

replaced plastic stem spacers with aluminum

The headset still will not get tight so I took everything apart and cleaned the headtube. While it's "dry" I dropped the bearings into the frame and I notice a slight amount of side to side wiggle. I wrapped the bearings with a thin layer of plumbers Teflon tape, greased the crap out of the headtube and reinstalled the bearings. This seemed to help but within minutes of riding, the tape is destroyed and the lose headset is back. I've tightened the stem bolt well beyond the recommended torque without any luck.

I'm curious if anyone else has dealt with this issue and if it was resolved.

Did you ever get this resolved? I have a 2021 CF8 spectral and there is definitely play between the headset cup and headset bearings. Minimal but there. I only feel it when the bike is upright and I shake it. I dont want to stress the headtube with this play. Looking into new headset bearings now so finding this thread.

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