Loose/tight headset problems

god1406
god1406 Posts: 554
edited January 2008 in MTB workshop & tech
Ok, i've noticed play in my headset recently, but strangely, the forks don't turn freely at all in the frame. I've tried tightening the top cap to get rid of the play, but this just makes the forks even harder to turn, and there is still substantial play in the lower cups of the headset (none in the top). I took the whole thing apart and it looked like the races wern't entirely smooth, perhaps from being over-tightened in the past. Could this mild brunelling have caused the 'symptoms' i described?

If you think it's the races that could be causing it, do i replace both races and the bearing cage, or just the races?

the bike's a 2007 marin rocky ridge, with a Cane Creek TH-857, 1" 1/8" Threadless headset. It's been on less than 10 rides, nothing mental.

Comments

  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,673
    sounds like you need it looking at as something is wrong. Take it back to the shop and get it sorted.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • god1406
    god1406 Posts: 554
    I bought it in September 2nd hand off a guy who had never used it, so i'll have a go myself before letting the local bikeshop monkeys loose on it.

    If I replaced the lower cup races, would i them have to replace the old bearing cage at the same time? I was working on the principle that brinelling would perhaps explain the play in the lower cups, and that when i tightened the top cap, it was only properly preloading bearings in the upper cups, which also explains the stiffness when turning the forks. hummm, or maybe not.
  • peanut
    peanut Posts: 1,373
    A headset should last years. I have a Dura Ace headset on my Ribble steel frame which has been on there 8 years.

    Sounds like it has been either overtightened or the cups have not been put in square with the proper tool.Possibly incorrect bearings have been used with the Cane cups

    If the cups are not square to the headtube then you will need to overtighten in order to stop the forks rocking but that usually causes the forks to be tight in certain places when turning the bars.

    There are lots of excellent headsets around for £15.00 or less you don't have to spend a fortune. The difficult bit is drifting out the old cups and pressing in the new .
  • peanut
    peanut Posts: 1,373
    sorry our posts collided . :shock:

    I would recommend that you replace the headset entirely.
    You will need a special tool to press and alighn the new cups in the headtube or you will end up with the same problem.
    It used to be just a threaded bolt and 2x flat washers and nuts and basically you put the bolt through the headtube and top and bottom cups and tighten the nut which pulls in the cups square with the headtube. I'm sure modern tools are much more sophisticated and accurate.

    This is possibly one simple job on the bike that I would recommend you give to a LBS to do . It shouldn't cost more than £10-£15 tops.
    Cycle the bike to the shop they should be able to do it whilst you wait 15-20 minutes job Halfords could do it
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    Ring them first mind! Might have a full day of stuff booked in. I would recommend new headset too for the price they are.
  • god1406
    god1406 Posts: 554
    cheers i'll think about getting a new one. It's just annoying to have to get a whole new headet on a bike that's only a few months old. Especially when the one in my kona has worked perfectly for 5 years. grrr.
  • peanut
    peanut Posts: 1,373
    supersonic wrote:
    Ring them first mind! Might have a full day of stuff booked in. I would recommend new headset too for the price they are.

    absolutely :lol:

    Why do we always have to book evry little thing these days. ? I went into a ladies hair dressers the other day for an emergency haircut before an interview. The salon was empty. The snooty lady looked through the appointments book and said you can have an appointment tomorrow morning :shock: :shock: :shock: and I looked around the empty salon in disbelief :D
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    Hehe, just the way it is. When I worked as a mechanic, almost always had a few hours of jobs to do from opening up. Had time to do assessments and quotes on bikes, but couldnt really do on the spot stuff. Had to give myself some leeway with jobs, always something that goes wrong!