help with new headset please

fatfreddy

Hi

i've just had a new Cane Creek S3 headset fitted by my LBS and I can't adjust the preload. It's either very loose or so tight it's grating (sound of unhappy metal).

First of all - should there be any grease in this headset? (sorry if this is dumb but the old one had plenty). It looks (and sounds) dry.

Secondly - could it be a problem with the preload itself? I have a carbon fork with a bung in it - it seems very tight when I tighten it. (I have no problems with star fangled nuts and steel forks - so I think I'm doing it correctly)

Any help much appreciated.

FF

pliptrot

Sealed bearings, so no grease should be OK but no harm in coating all (metallic) mating surfaces. If there is no interference between spacers, your steam and anything else which is binding then you may have what I had, with the same symptoms: the bottom race (fork) was aligned badly and thus you couldn't get decent adjustment. I'd guess it's the alignment somewhere that's out.

fatfreddy

thanks for this - I'll take it all apart and check it out - if not back the the LBS I guess.

Stupid thing is - I didn't need a new headset - rebuilding the bike and thought I take the opportunity to up grade it from the £10 job that came with the frame..

ff

nicklouse

it does sound like something has been forgotten in the assembly process.

fatfreddy

Hmmm - just taken it back to the LBS - there's a score mark near the bottom of the steerer. This is consistent with the sound I hear of unhappy metal. Full carbon forks with alu crown and carbon steerer - the score is in the aluminium.

So - could be that the the headset was not installed properly (it was done while I waited on a saturday by a young willing person).

All hunky dory now but for the score mark. It's less than a mm deep - do I take the risk?

ff