Headset keeps coming loose

Yacoby
Yacoby Posts: 211
edited June 2013 in MTB workshop & tech
So my headset keeps coming loose, as in done up properly (by someone other than me, stem done up with a torque wrench etc), and within a couple of hours of riding it has come lose.

Took it to a bike shop, and they said basically (I think):
Bit of wear on the outside of the cartridge bearings indicating that they may have been moving.

Their suggestion to replace the bearings as something that may work (They were uncertain about that, but it was a suggestion). I didn't ask at the time but now it occurs to me that the cups may be worn as well as I think they are both steel.

The current headset is a FSA Orbit ZS (So 1.5 lower, 1 18 upper)

My question is, does it sound a reasonable assumption that replacing the bearings would work? The reason I ask is that they are ridiculously stupidly expensive (£20+ for both). As in they seem most of the way to a new headset.

Comments

  • Chunkers1980
    Chunkers1980 Posts: 8,035
    No. Do the stem up tighter and once that's tight make sure to top cap is tight too as a double check measure.
  • cooldad
    cooldad Posts: 32,599
    Maybe do it yourself so you know it's done. Always assume everyone else is an idiot. It's pretty close to true anyway.
    I don't do smileys.

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  • Yacoby
    Yacoby Posts: 211
    I tend to make the assumption that the biggest problem is me. *shrugs* Maybe it is shops getting the torque wrong IDK. I know I have a habit of undertightening things but I would have hoped shops could get it about right. So the stem bolts are now at 6Nm with a torque wrench that is relatively new and so should be fairly accurate.

    I'll see how that goes.
  • cooldad
    cooldad Posts: 32,599
    Headsets 'settle' so need checking once or twice (or regularly TBH) after fitting. I've never used a torque wrench on a bike - just make things tight enough and job's done.
    I don't do smileys.

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  • Yacoby
    Yacoby Posts: 211
    cooldad wrote:
    I've never used a torque wrench on a bike - just make things tight enough and job's done.
    Tight enough to get the job done is hard when you don't know how much that is. I know I undertighten stuff a lot so now in most cases I do it up by hand and then take a torque wrench to see how much I need to add.

    Give it a year and I probably won't need the torque wrench and be able to get it good enough by feel alone.
  • cooldad
    cooldad Posts: 32,599
    It's a zen thing. Become one with the bolt, young grasshopper.
    I don't do smileys.

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  • felix.london
    felix.london Posts: 4,067
    My technique is that I tighten up bolts as tight as I can :shock: ...holding the short end of an L-shaped allen key*

    *this might not work if you're Superman
    "Why have that extra tooth if you're not using it?" - Brian Lopes

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  • iDad
    iDad Posts: 68
    i had a similar issue recently and through messing around with it too much i managed to pull the Star nut through and f*ck it up.
    since getting the new star nut it felt ok but after a long ride at the weekend it went loose again....however this time i noticed that the top cap was tight but the spacer below was loose.
    further checking and i spotted that the top cap was clamping against the steerer tube before clamping the spacer/stem.
    i found myself a slightly thicker spacer and now the headset is as it should be again. 41miles XC Friday and 24 last night and still no movement :-)
  • cooldad
    cooldad Posts: 32,599
    My technique is that I tighten up bolts as tight as I can :shock: ...holding the short end of an L-shaped allen key*

    *this might not work if you're Superman
    I have a finger rule:
    1 finger - teeny tiny bolts
    2 fingers - small bolts
    etc up to
    Whole body - jump around on the wheelbrace loosening nuts some gorilla sized mong with a maladjusted air wrench put on.
    I don't do smileys.

    There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda

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  • Type how to tighten headset on you tube and there good videos.

    Hope this helps.

    Ash
  • The Rookie
    The Rookie Posts: 27,812
    Make sure the steerer and inside of the stem aren't greased.

    Don't do the topcap nut tighter, that just preloads the bearings too much.

    If the bearing housing for the cartridge bearing is worn (big if) then it means an all new bearing setup.
    Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.
  • thelonegroover
    thelonegroover Posts: 1,073
    How old is the bike and what sort of life has it had?
    6 Nm is not actually very tight, even for stem bolts.
    Loosen the stem bolts and tearer top nut, check spacers are seated correctly, retighten top nut to preload the stearer. Retighten s the stem bolts. You should then be able to loosen the top nut and check the spacers again. Don't forget to tighten the top nut before actually riding though.
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  • The Rookie
    The Rookie Posts: 27,812
    You can remove the top cap totally once the stem is done up, it is that and only that that maintains the preload after all.
    Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.
  • Chunkers1980
    Chunkers1980 Posts: 8,035
    But if I was having issues with the stem slipping I'd leave it on and tight.
  • The Rookie
    The Rookie Posts: 27,812
    IF the stem is slipping, maybe, but then it will usually rotate as well, so I'm not convinced it is slipping....
    Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.
  • thelonegroover
    thelonegroover Posts: 1,073
    But if I was having issues with the stem slipping I'd leave it on and tight.

    Surely, if your having issues with the stem slipping, it's not tight!
    The point is, it's the stem to steerer bolts not the top preload bolt that holds the stem on.
    Planet X Kaffenback 2
    Giant Trance X2
    Genesis High Latitude 2x10
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  • Chunkers1980
    Chunkers1980 Posts: 8,035
    What are you talking about.
  • The Rookie
    The Rookie Posts: 27,812
    Bikes, what were YOU talking about?
    Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    The top cap is a bearing adjuster, which can only adjust the bearings when the stem is loose, and the stem overlaps the top of the steerer by a few mm.

    It does not keep the stem on tight, it is purely an adjuster. Once adjusted, the stem is tightened using its own bolts, which keeps the adjustment in place and, of course, the stem in place.

    Never tighten the top cap bolt with the stem tightened, all it does is pull the SFN up.