Headset Shot??

NWLondoner

After my early ride in today's lovely heavy rain I gave my pride and joy a wash.

I've noticed a horrible brown gunk coming from under my headset. The steering also seems a bit rough as well.
I guess this means a service or replacement.

It's an FSA Orbit CE intergrated headset. These are pretty cheap to buy new so I guess just swapping the old for new is a simple affair??

One issue is that I don't have a workstand. Is this doable without one or should I not chance it and see a reliable LBS?

sungod

no job *needs* a workstand, it just makes life easier sometimes, you can certainly do a headset without one - i have

at minimum it needs a clean and regrease, this is easy enough

if the ball bearings are shot, but the races ok, then just the bb can be replaced

if the races are shot, new headset

not familiar with that model, but removing old crown races and fitting new ones can take quite a bit of oomph, if you don't have the correct tools (or know how to improvise) it's possible to cock* things up, so unless you are confident i'd get the lbs to do it

the park tools site is an excellent source of how-to info, try diy for the the clean and grease, might be all it needs

http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-hel ... et-service

*i actually used the word for a male bird, but the br censorware substituted this other word for it

cycleclinic

You may just need new bearings and grease but if the cups or crown race are pitted then it's a new headset.

Removing headset cups without a stand though is harder if you cannot hold the frame firmly. Removing cups with a screw driver can be difficult but is doable. A headset press can be made out a 12mm threaded bar flat plate washers and a some nuts. So it is all doable on a small DIY budget. Having a solid workstand makes this job from being a pig into something straightforward.

A cup removal tool is quite cheap. Srew drivers an somtimes get the crown races off without damaging the crown race seat but a crown race remover would be better. Also a metal pipe the same diameter as your crown race will be needed to press the new crown race on.

All the proper Park tools to fit headsets are really very expensive.

NWLondoner

I've decided it is better if I leave it to the pro's

Got it booked in with Sigma and ordered a new headset from Planet X