New headset fitted, possible problems?

Darra8

Hi Guys,

I have just put a new bike together and have noticed some annoying rattling from the front end when going fast over rough ground.I have noticed that there is bit of play from the headset. I have loosened the stem and tried tightening the headset bolt to pull everything together, and that seems to work. But as soon as you drop the front of the bike the play is back. My LBS fitted the cups in the frame for me and tie wrapped all the other parts together in the right order for me to fit. I have done this, but is there anything that I have missed to do. There does seem to be a gap between the top race of bearings and the cover that goes above it...should this be there? Should I tap all the parts down with a piece of wood and a hammer before tightening everything up? It is a Crane Creek set.

Cheers,

Steve

nicklouse

crown race fitted to the fork?

centering wedge fitted below the top cover?

clearance between the top of the treerer and the top of the stem?

read the info on parktools.

ride_whenever

sure it's the headset and not the forks, pads wobbling in the breaks, loose maxle, loose qr, loose hub bearings?

Darra8

Thanks for that.

The crown race is fitted and The wedge is also in place, although I will check it is as low at it will go. I fitted a new rigid fork at the same time so made sure there was a gap between the top of the steerer and the stem. Nothing else is loose, and when rocking the bike back and forth with the front brake on, you can feel the play in the headset. I read the Parktools guide and the only thing i haven't done is seat the star nut in to a depth of 15mm, mine is more like 5mm. I can't see this making a difference though :?

nicklouse

Darra8 wrote:

mine is more like 5mm. I can't see this making a difference though :?

well the top cap may be bottoming out on it?

just make sure you have clearance.

Darra8

I do have the clearance as i have a spacer above the stem too.


The gap between the top cap and frame cup is making me think that all the bits aren't fitted together properly...will have to investigate further.

Cheers,

Steve

Danlube

Take it apart and start over.

Darra8

Thanks for the advice guys. I have managed to sort it now.

It would appear that there were several problems. The first was that the V brake bosses on the fork were loose, the top headset cup was not seated all the way into the frame and there wasn't quite enough clearance between the star nut and the top cap. After some messing around, hammering and banging, I have sorted it....result

Cheers,

Steve