oroboyz@aol.com wrote:
> Some sort of washer that won't turn (keyed or flat section) is
> important to the proper adjustment and tightening so it will stay
> tight for threaded headsets. Leave it out and the headset will
> vibrate loose.
I must admit I've never had that problem. I have one bike on which I had
to omit the washer due to short steer tube on a replacement fork, and
it's never vibrated loose.
> Smaller builders often do not have the ability or tools to mill a
> slot/groove in the steerer tube, so most often they file a flat in
> the steerer threads to accept, albeit a bit sloppily, the keyed
> washer. A proper fork & headset assembly should never be without a
> keyed or flat section washer!
It only takes a few minutes with a hand file to make a channel if you want one.
--
John Thompson (john@os2.dhs.org)
Appleton WI USA