Help! How to tighten my headset bearings?

bottom_bracket
bottom_bracket Posts: 76
edited September 2012 in Workshop
I was out on Sunday and went over some of those painted lines across the road designed to slow cars down and there was a knocking sound, I'm pretty sure it came from the headset. I've tried applying the front brake and rocking but there's no play. Would you say leave as it is or tighten just a tad?

If I'm going to tighten it can anyone enlighten me on how to do it please? It's a bog-standard Boardman team carbon from 2010.

Comments

  • stokey1964
    stokey1964 Posts: 454
    check to see if there is any play in the whel bearing by moving it left to right.

    Also check to see if the front QR is tight

    By holding on the front brake and rocking the bike you would feel any play in the headset.
  • estampida
    estampida Posts: 1,008
    so you undo the bolts at the back of the stem

    then the nut on top adjusts the tension on the bearing

    lightly tighten, and then stem, check for rocking (hold front brake, and put other hand on headset / frame and feel for knock)

    if it comes back the start fangled nut inside the steerer is loose

    best buying a hope head doctor or similar, and ditching the nut
  • Dmak
    Dmak Posts: 445
    Loosen stem clamp bolts. Tighten stem bolt a bit. re-tighten stem clamp bolts. Job done.
  • bottom_bracket
    bottom_bracket Posts: 76
    thanks chaps!
  • dennisn
    dennisn Posts: 10,601
    Dmak wrote:
    Loosen stem clamp bolts. Tighten stem bolt a bit. re-tighten stem clamp bolts. Job done.

    That's the simple explanation and it's correct - as far as it goes. Know what you are doing and most importanly WHY you're doing it. I'm sure that somewhere on the Internet there is a video of this.

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