Headset problem

seanorawe

I had a fit done and the gut took out a couple of the smaller shims from under my stem I think they are 5ml x2

But I can feel a give in the headset when I break or go over a bump etc.

I loosened everything up then tightened the rear steerer tube screws first, then tightened the top cap after and the problem is still there. After this I got scared and stopped.

Sooooooooooo

Do I unscrew everything again and tighten the top cap first until the give goes away? Then tighten the steerer screws?

What do I do if the poroblem does not go away? Does it mean I have damaged the headset because I was riding on a loose headset.

Or is there something im missing with shims and how they should be put back on? They were taken from under the stwem and put above it, leaving another 10mm shim below it.

NewTTer

Sean you did it in the wrong order mate, tighten the top cap FIRST, then the pinch bolts on the back of the stem.
I find a good way of doing it is to hold on the front brake and rock the bike whilst tightneing the top cap, you can feel the moment the rockiing stops

seanorawe

Ah. Thanks very much

seanorawe

Seems to have sorted it out. I take it after I have tightened the top cap to eliminate the give, and tighten everything at the rear there is no need to tighten the top cap any further?

nicklouse

correct.

top cap to preload the bearings stem bolts to hold it all together. you could then remove the top cap if you wished for what it then does.