Headset maintenance

[Chicken Chaser]

My Boardman Comp suffers from a lot of creaking from the headset. I've played around trying to sort out whether it was too slack/too tight but it still continues to do it so I'll need to strip it.

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

Looks a bit crude? Maybe this is where costs were cut? Bikes done less than 300 miles but its not right. Will I need any special seating tools for it if I remove it?

[AyBee]

Chicken Chaser said:

My Boardman Comp suffers from a lot of creaking from the headset. I've played around trying to sort out whether it was too slack/too tight but it still continues to do it so I'll need to strip it.

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

Looks a bit crude? Maybe this is where costs were cut? Bikes done less than 300 miles but its not right. Will I need any special seating tools for it if I remove it?

Removing and fitting a different one will probably be a job you want to get the LBS to do unless you have the special tools. What do you mean by "looks a bit crude"?

[IroningMan]

Are you sure it's the headset that's creaking, and not the shifter and brake cables?

[Chicken Chaser]

AyBee said:

Removing and fitting a different one will probably be a job you want to get the LBS to do unless you have the special tools. What do you mean by "looks a bit crude"?

Just doesn't look as fancy as some of the other FSA stuff. I'll see if I can inspect and pack it full of grease to prevent any water/grit ingress. If it needs replacing ill take it to LBS
Definitely not the shifters.

[Rocksteadyeddie]

As above, lots of creaks get blamed on the headset. Replacing one is not too difficult although common wisdom is that it is a job that only a mechanic with 20 years experience and £800 tools can do. You can buy a cheap (but servicable) headset press off Ebay for less than £10. Provided you're careful it's not that tricky.

[itsnotarace]

Lock the front and rear brakes on, and whilst off the bike try and rock it back and forwards to see if there is any play in the headset, you should be able to feel it even if you can't visually see it. If there is, tighten the top cap bolt by a 1/4 turn and try again.

[Gooby]

Chicken Chaser said:

Just doesn't look as fancy as some of the other FSA stuff. I'll see if I can inspect and pack it full of grease to prevent any water/grit ingress. If it needs replacing ill take it to LBS
Definitely not the shifters.

On a £600 bike you are not going to get top of the line kit. Packing it full of grease just makes a big pudle of crap that will leak out on to parts of the bike where you dont want crap. Large amounts of lube / grease also holds grit and grime and cack and does more damage. Take it to a decent LBS and ask them to sort it.

It has long been held true that to better margins, halfords put in very cheap bearings which disintegrate quickly.

[AyBee]

Are you 100% sure it's the headset and not the other end of the stem (handlebar side). I had creaking, took this bit apart, cleaned it all up, tightened and the creaking dissapeared...! I too thought it was the headset at first!

[CoolC]

As already said, a lot of creaks and squeeks can be very hard to pin-point. A friend had one, that he was sure was a headset issue. It turned out to be the seat post.

Just go around the bike and ensure everything is fully tightened before buying parts you may not need.

[Chicken Chaser]

It's most noticeable when out of the saddle and pulling and pushing on the bars. I'll have a look at it tonight when I get in from work

[Rocksteadyeddie]

Check the bottom bracket too. I know it's a long way from the headset but it would be consistent with when it is happening.

[itsnotarace]

Chicken Chaser said:

It's most noticeable when out of the saddle and pulling and pushing on the bars.

Most likely stem bolts as above

[AyBee]

itsnotarace said:

Chicken Chaser said:

It's most noticeable when out of the saddle and pulling and pushing on the bars.

Most likely stem bolts as above

As per my post above, this is exactly what I was getting and originally thought it was the headset, take the bars out the clamp, clean everything including threads of the bolts and put it all back together, tighten up and fingers crossed it'll be gone

[Chicken Chaser]

Well I stripped it today, and being sealed bearings, inspected the housings and what not for any dirt ingress. Looked ok, except there was a distinct lack of any lubrication so a clean out with GT85 and some light grease just around the casings to seat the forks back. I then cleaned all around the stem bolts before bolting it all back together. Took it out for a shakedown and all appears good. The creaking seems to have disappeared and I'm looking forward to getting out again tomorrow night.
Cheers all for the advice.