Stiff Headset

medi01
medi01 Posts: 63
edited June 2013 in Workshop
Gotta new frame/headset and built it all up, but if i tighten it fully then the headset is veryyyy stiff - like hard to turn the forks while riding. I'm not over tightening it as if I loosen it off enough for it to steer freely like with other bikes then there becomes a lot play in the headset.

I've clearly done something wrong :?

For info bike is a felt FC 2013 (ie a F3) and the headset is an FSA no.42

Cheers for any help

Comments

  • paul_mck
    paul_mck Posts: 1,058
    did you slide the little ring over the forks first that locates against the bottom bearing?
  • sungod
    sungod Posts: 17,359
    assuming it's the right headset for the frame

    i'd check that...

    crown race is properly seated on the fork
    bearing seats free of any stray packaging/crud
    bearings fully seated
    all the bits of the headset are assembled in correct order and the right way up

    in case you hadn't seen it, this may help with checking...
    http://www.fullspeedahead.com/storage/i ... ons_v3.pdf
    my bike - faster than god's and twice as shiny
  • medi01
    medi01 Posts: 63
    sungod wrote:
    assuming it's the right headset for the frame

    i'd check that...

    crown race is properly seated on the fork
    bearing seats free of any stray packaging/crud
    bearings fully seated
    all the bits of the headset are assembled in correct order and the right way up

    in case you hadn't seen it, this may help with checking...
    http://www.fullspeedahead.com/storage/i ... ons_v3.pdf

    Thanks so much for your reply sungod - i may or may not have been an idiot and put the upper bearing in upside down... link helped a lot - was exactly what i needed! cheers!

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