Crown Race Won’t Fit on Fork: Solutions

We often get queries related to the crown race not fitting on the fork. There is nothing worse than getting a new fork and finding that the crown race won’t fit on fork. This is not a common complain however. Most manufacturers make crown race that does fit well. There may be some exceptions and we hope to solve this problem.

The fork is used to connect the front wheel of the bike to the bike frame. This is done via a steerer tube. This then allows the biker to steer the bike in any direction.

A crown race is the buffer between the bike fork, bearing and headtube. It is a small circular piece which separates these three bike components. A crown race allows each piece to rotate independently without interference.

This article will explain in detail why the crown race won’t fit on fork. It will also give solutions to what to do if the crown race won’t fit on fork.

Why is a Crown Race Important?

Let us first discuss why crown race is important. This thing may come across your mind that what if you just install the fork without the crown race. After all, what is the use of this tiny circular item? It may not be important and you can get away without using it.

The thing is that the crown race acts as a buffer between the fork, bearing and headtube. It may be tiny but is essential for the proper and smooth functioning of the bike. The crown race enables the fork to move freely. This allows the biker to steer in whatever direction he wants.

In case the crown race is not present, the base of the steerer tube will get stuck to the bottom bearing. This will result in the restriction of free rotation. As the bearing is not able to move freely, the front fork starts getting stuck to the bearing. This adds friction and makes it difficult to steer the bike with ease.

Other than the essential function of making the fork move freely, the crown race also helps to prevent dirt and other particles from entering in between the bottom bearing and the fork. If dust enters in the space between the steerer tube and the bearing, it will gradually build up and lead to the fork facing a lot of resistance when steering the bike. This will eventually damage the bike components such as the bearing, the fork and the steerer tube. Therefore, it is safe to say that a crown race is a useful component in a bike.

In a nutshell, crown race is very important. It will allow the biker to steer the bike with ease. Crown race will also help prevent debris to enter in between the bike components. Therefore, crown race is important and you must not overlook it even if the crown race won’t fit on fork.

Why the Crown Race Won’t Fit on Fork?

Before we solve the problem of the crown race not fitting on the fork, let’s explore the reasons of why the crown race won’t fit on fork. There may be a number of reasons as the why the crown race won’t fit on fork. Let’s see them.

Wrong Size

The very obvious reason why the crown race is not fitting on the fork is that it is simply the wrong size. Many people buy the complete set of fork, crown race and steerer tube. The manufacturers ensure that this set is the right size. However, sometimes people buy the components separately. This could be due to an old piece being damaged and they are simply replacing the piece. In this case, sometimes the size is overlooked. If the crown size is not the right size, it will not fit on the fork.

Damaged Fork

Another reason as to why the crown race won’t fit on the fork is that the fork may be damaged. If the fork is damaged, it is possible that the crown race won’t fit properly. The fork may get damaged if the bike fell at an awkward angle or if it deformed overtime due to resistance.

Dust Buildup

It is possible that the crown race or the fork needs to be cleaned. Dust regularly builds up. If a lot of dust is accumulated, it will be difficult to install the crown race.

Issue with Steerer Tube

The steerer tube may have an issue as well. For instance, if the steerer tube is bent or has deformed, the crown race will not fit properly over it. As a result, you will be unable to install the crown race.

Solutions to the crown race not fitting on the fork

Following are the solutions to this problem of the crown race not fitting the fork.

Purchase bike parts from the same brand

It is recommended to buy the bike components such as bearing, fork and crown race. When you buy from the same brand manufacturer and in a set, it is highly probable that the size will be exactly right and there will be no problem in installation.

Clean dirt buildup

Try to clean the fork and crown race. Dust particles build up gradually and may interfere with how the bike components fit together. By simply cleaning the parts, you may find that the crown race will end up fitting on the fork.

Tighten bolts

Sometimes, there might be a loose bolt which is inhibiting the proper installation of the crown race on the fork. Try to tighten the screws on the steerer tube and bearing and see if that makes a difference.

Conclusion

Having the crown race not fitting the fork can be a real nuisance. Luckily for you, we have explained the possible causes and solutions for this fitting problem. Hopefully, this will help you in solving the issue. We would love to hear from you if you guys have any more solutions from your experience as to what to do if the crown race is not fitting the fork.

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