Loose Headset

hugo15
hugo15 Posts: 1,101
edited March 2008 in Workshop
I have an old style quill headset on my winter/commuter bike. The lock not keeps coming loose, no mater how hard I tighten it. How do I stop this happening??

Comments

  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    Assuming you're tightening it correctly with two spanners - hold the locknut firm with one and back the cup off to tighten against it and the cups have been fitted square. It's probable that the steerer is too long i.e. the lock nut is grounding the top of the steerer. either file/cut the steerer down by a mm or two or fit a spacer between the cup and the locknut. If that doesn't work, the headtube may need facing or the cups resetting to make sure they're square - also check that the forsk steerer isn't cracked.
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • geoff_ss
    geoff_ss Posts: 1,201
    I assume you're using 2 spanners,one on the bearing cup and the other tightening the lock nut. I've never had a problem with any coming loose if they're properly tightened. The only thing I can think of is that the thread is damaged. That could be on the bearing cup, the locknut or, if you're very unlucky, the steerer tube thread.

    Geoff
    Old cyclists never die; they just fit smaller chainrings ... and pedal faster
  • hugo15
    hugo15 Posts: 1,101
    Yep, using two spanners. It has always been fine until I decided to service the headset rather than getting the LBS to do it. Everything went back together OK and the ride is fine it just keeps coming loose after a few rides.
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    You should be able to get a 1mm tab washer / spacer from your LBS - riding the bike can cause the lower cup/crown race to 'settle' . Also check that the gap between the cups are even - you may have cross-threaded the cup when refitting it.
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • hugo15
    hugo15 Posts: 1,101
    Just back from the garage!

    I have loosened off the lock nut and the cup cleaned it up, added a bit more grease to the bearings and put it back together. I paid particular attention not to cross thread it.

    The bike is a 20 year old Raleigh an I have never had any problems before so I don't think it is a problem with the length of the steerer. This was my first go at servicing the headset so maybe I didn't get everything back together just right................ I will see how it goes. If it keeps happening I will drop the forks out again and have a good investigation.
  • Cajun
    Cajun Posts: 1,048
    Have you tried Loctite BLUE??
    Cajun
  • rustychisel
    rustychisel Posts: 3,444
    AaaaarghghghrhrhghrhrhghA AAAAARGH!!!!! g-gg-g-g-g-g-gg-gg-glug

    Loctite is an appalling solution invented by non-mechanics for bad mechanics so they feel safer about botching the job in the first place (IMO).

    Conventional headsets are quite susceptible to working loose and need to be finessed, as described, getting the correct bearing adjustment by backing the lower nut back against its locknut (using 2 spanners and prayers, if you wish). Repeat the exercise when it goes out of adjustment.
    - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
    I\'m only escaping to here because the office is having a conniption
  • hugo15
    hugo15 Posts: 1,101
    Had a look on the Park tools site last night and took the top bit of the headset apart again. It looks like I have the bearings in upside down :oops: . The bearings were facing upwards towards the threaded cup rather than downwards as I think they should be. A quick look at the lower ones shows them to be upside down too :oops: .

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