Headset bearing - FUBAR?

Was struggling with the headset of my recently acquired Arkose and so pulled the top bearing out - see picture.

I assume its not meant to look that and so I need some new bearings?

If I am reading it correctly (its a bit worn) the bearing has THMR 12 1 1-1/8 45 x 45 C9 on it.

Looking online it seems to be an FSA C40 ACB headset - any tips on the best source for new bearings?

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That looks hella fresh compared to the bearing some people are riding about with!

Ha! My main concern is the bit sticking up in the middle - pretty sure that his meant to be flush with the shell.

That isn’t the conical wedge?

45 45 1/8 bearing aka campag bearings aka the ones with the orange seal

You are right I took it all apart this morning, and its a sort of tapered split ring to locate the stem in the bearing.

Having cleaned everything thoroughly, re-greased and re-assembled I'm still really struggling to tension the headset in such a way that the forks don't move under braking but not so tight that the steering is binding. Any tips from anyone?

Sounds like you might be missing a piece or something.

Can you post a photo showing a sort of 'exploded' view?

Assuming the bearings are good (rotate smoothly when off the bike) you probably just need one or two of these under the top cover:-

https://www.tredz.co.uk/.FSA-Micro-Spacer_106078.htm?

Unfortunately I have re-assembled it without taking a picture.

However what I have is:

At the bottom - just the bearing; the shells are integrated to the fork/head tube

At the top (reading up)

• bearing
  
• Split ring thing
  
• 46x4 low stack headset cover (from gbj_tester)
  
  

Above that I have a steerer tube spacer; then the stem; then another spacer; then the top cap.

At the bottom - just the bearing; the shells are integrated to the fork/head tube

You don’t need a crown race on the fork?

Could the low stack headset cover be binding against the frame?

The crown race is integrated to the fork.

Re. The low stack cover - yes maybe - will look at that, might need a spacer or a slimmer cover.

You can get <1mm shims to go under to lift it up just enough to clear. Your lbs might have some, otherwise SJS probably has them.

Yep a LBS had some - a couple of super thin ones seems to have solved the problem.

Thanks for all the help.