Headset Advice (I've been at the allam keys)

[Dizeee]

I am going to keep this really brief using facts only!

I have had to tighten my headset a few times of late, it's done around 4000 miles. Yesterday I tightened it after a 30 miler, and having got on today there is a problem. The steering is stiff and I am leaning into corners and the front is not turning in, horrid experience. As I went out only for a very local hour I had left my allan keys at home (I know, I know) so popped past a local bike shop in Chobham to borrow a key to loosen it off again. Their mechanic was not there apparently but no bother as I could do it myself. As I was speaking to him the shop chap went straight to the top nut without slackening the side ones and tightened it, or so he claimed, saying it was loose. (Really don't think it was, I tightened it all up yesterday and I did it properly, loosening side nuts, gently firming centre nut, then re tightening side nuts). I wasn't best impressed but ignored what he had tried to do, then stood there and explained to him how to do it, before doing the above in front of him just as I had done the previous day. He raised his eyebrows as I correctly adjusted the headset.

I rushed it and as I left, I rode along and noticed my entire bars and stem were slightly out of kilter off to the right which threw me a bit although I had not taken any time to align anything in the shop as it was dark and little room. I limped home and have now just gone and again loosened it all off, centred it all properly, and re tightened so I think it is ok now. However it is clearly in need of changing as it sounds and feels grainy when turning, and when it was over tight it always wanted to default to the centre when turned slightly left or right. I have also had some tell tale rusty brown discharge coming down above the forks after washing it (which has been around 4 times a week in this weather).

Can somebody reassure me that 1) Everything I have done all sounds correct and 2) I have some mileage left on the headset yet to be able to commute until I get a new one fitted next week ?

Thanks in advance. The joys of starting to do your own maintenance eh!

[CoolC]

You might get away with just new bearings, but as headsets are reasonably cheap you might as well replace the whole lot.

From your description, you're doing everything correctly, so just plain worn out rather than any "damage"

Oh and being pedantic, it's Allen key.

[Dizeee]

Cool thanks, I am sure I was! It was super stiff today and I was thrown when I rode out of the shop with it looking like this:

[anonymous-user]

That sounds a lot like a dying headset. But they die a slow death, so don't fret too much.

[thetrash]

Have you checked to see if the expander bolt isn't slipping in the fork?

[Dizeee]

thetrash said:

Have you checked to see if the expander bolt isn't slipping in the fork?

Erm... no... that sounds a bit beyond me. Expander bolt? Check it in the fork???

[Benmac]

The bit about adjustment is right at the bottom but have a read of the rest of it to learn about the various components in a threadless headset.

http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help/threadles...

[Fastpedeller]

Once you are familiar with all the parts and assembly procedure, if you want to get more life out of it aside from cleaning it and regreasing you may consider swapping the bearing cups which are in the top and bottom of the headtube. These cups are usually the same (do check carefully) and the lower one will be more worn than the upper, as it takes more of a pounding and also get the road dirt.

[gazza285]

Step away from the allam keys.

[BadgerBenji]

gazza285 said:

Step away from the allam keys.

And use Allen keys

[anonymous-user]

When you tighten that bolt in the headset, the top cap pushes down onto the headtube and pulls against a star bolt wedged in the fork steerer tube to ensure its all tight. Carbon forks have an alloy sleeve to ensure the star nut doesnt dig into the carbon. In this picture the nut was not gripping the steerer tube and pulled up too far. You can tap the star nut back down into the steerer tube easily enough, just dont tap it down too far.... like I did, then you have two start nuts in the steerer tube....



Effectively you are pulling the bottom of the forks up and compressing it all a bit by tightening that top bolt, if you tighten it too much you will knacker the bearings and but too much stress through the head tube, you can get hex keys which are set to click at 5Nm, I think Ritchey do them, for carbon bits they are essential.

Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 6th March 15:30

[bakerstreet]

Dizeee said:

Cool thanks, I am sure I was! It was super stiff today and I was thrown when I rode out of the shop with it looking like this:

You might find that you can straighten it by just holding the wheel between your legs and pulling the bars round. I have also ridden with my bars like that and I agree it feels very odd

[Dizeee]

Cheers al, I fixed it up since that pic by undoing it again and taking time to align everything before re tightening.

So far so good and it rode fine on today's 52 mile commute so I am happy. New part has been ordered so it will be replaced soon. No doubt the BB will be next as that was around 10 months ago I had that done. I only last week had my brake pads replaced as they were almost down to the metal, having only had them done in December! Things never seem to last!

[deadtom]

Dizeee said:

Can somebody reassure me that 1) Everything I have done all sounds correct and 2) I have some mileage left on the headset yet to be able to commute until I get a new one fitted next week ?

1) yes sounds like you are doing it right

2) like someone else said headsets die a slow death, it should be fine for another week or so