Rusty headset?

russell49
russell49 Posts: 2
edited July 2011 in Workshop
Hello

I have a lot of rusty gunk leaking from my headset. I have a feeling that this is being caused by my sweat dripping on to the headset when I am riding. Is this likely?

Comments

  • Arghyrou
    Arghyrou Posts: 155
    That or on my old peugeot, I left it out in the rain and water seeped in, and caused a gunk/rust liquid. Id open it up, give it a light sand, dry it out and then stick a bit of lube on it, keep it out of the rain and make sure its tight. Worth a go I reckon?
  • rickwiggans
    rickwiggans Posts: 416
    Almost certainly water has got inside and the grease has gone from the lower bearing. Take it out, clean it, grease it, replace it. you might find though, that it needs the bearing replacing, if it's become a bit rough
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  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    Using a bike on a turbo can result in a bit of sweat dripping on to the bike, but when you're out on the road it usually evaporates or is blown away by the incredible slipstream you're creating.

    Much more likely to be rainwater / road spray

    Curiously when I stripped my headset last week the lower bearing was spotless, while the upper one was a bit rusty (outside only, the sealed bearing innards still silky smooth)

    I put this down to using proper mudguards in the wet, and the fact that if water gets in to the upper bearing seat it can just sit there.