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