Yukky brown discharge

AndyF16

No, it's not a medical question, thankfully! Whenever I've washed my Ace or been out in the rain, I get streaks of rusty coloured liquid from the top of the headtube under the spacers, and bottom of the headtube by the top of the forks

I'm pretty fastidious about applying some GT85 after washing or a clean but wet ride, but is this normal or have I got a problem with the steerer tube or something? Thanks

mercurykev

Sounds like rusty water coming from the headset. You should take it apart and give everything a good greasing before reassembling.

sungod

when was the headset last greased?

if gt-85 gets into it the grease could get flushed out, so easier for water to get in and things go rusty, but unless you were very generous with it i woldn't think tha's the cause

metal steerer tubes are usually aluminium alloy, so the rusty colour wil be from something else

i'd take it apart for a look, may just need a clean and grease

ScottieP

I've got exactly the same thing happening with my Allez (you can see it in this picture from a recent blog post). I thought it just meant that I needed to replace my headset (it's nearly 6 years old and the Specialized ones don't have the best reputation). It's never been taken apart and greased since new - so that might explain it. If it's rusting should I just replace it?

sungod

ScottieP wrote:

I've got exactly the same thing happening with my Allez (you can see it in this picture from a recent blog post). I thought it just meant that I needed to replace my headset (it's nearly 6 years old and the Specialized ones don't have the best reputation). It's never been taken apart and greased since new - so that might explain it. If it's rusting should I just replace it?

deends where/how bad the corrosion is

if you are ok to diy, get some grease, take it apart, clean it, if the bearings are shot you'll be able to see if you need to replace, you can still grease it and re-assemble anyway to keep riding, then get a new headset

otherwise it's lbs time, in which case might as well get a headset fitted

how about your wheel bearings?

AndyF16

Thanks gents, looks like I should pick up some posh grease next time I'm in my LBS and see if we can solve the problem. Mine's not as bad as ScottieP's example but there again it's not even 6 months old so bloody shouldn't be I suppose!

ScottieP

AndyF16 wrote:

Thanks gents, looks like I should pick up some posh grease next time I'm in my LBS and see if we can solve the problem. Mine's not as bad as ScottieP's example but there again it's not even 6 months old so bloody shouldn't be I suppose!

I'm surprised you're getting this at all - as you say the bikes only 6 months old - can you speak to the bike shop you bought it from?

My bikes 6 years old, done about 10,000kms and lives in a leaky shed - so it's not so surprising.

Sungod - thanks for the suggestions. I'm not good at DIY stuff - so it's a bike shop trip I think for a nice new headset. Wheel bearings are fine thanks - I think - no noticeable problems apart from being marginally out of true from a good crash recently - It might be time for a winter service I think.

Thanks and sorry to AndyF16 for the threadjack/jumping

ScottieP

mercurykev

If the headset has cartridge bearings then the rust will probably becoming from the bearing cases. If the bike is fairly new that the rust will probably be just on the surface.

AndyF16

ScottieP wrote:

Thanks and sorry to AndyF16 for the threadjack/jumping

ScottieP

not in the slightest chap - just the sort of discussion this forum is excellent for IMO

hopefully as mercurykev suggests it's just surface rust on mine - a multitool, a few hours and a probable bout of Tourettes will tell

ShutUpLegs

Strip down the headset and fit a new bike