Mountain Biking - Head set Question????

Hi i own a 04 (left over) Jamis Dakar bike. I just put a new fully adjustable fork on the bike. I replaced the factory non sealed bearing head set for a FSA pig DH pro sealed bearing set. My question is about every other ride the head set is kind of loose. To the point that the fork tube is moving foward and back in the frame. Not bad but ive tightned it like two times so far (today after my ride being the second). Just wonder if i did any thing wrong with the install. The parts are in the right order just weird why this is happening.

I am no expert, but I just put that same headset on my bike. If it was ok before you went out on your ride I can only guess that your stem is not tight enough. I would crank it down being carefull you don't get crazy.

Loosen the stem at the steerer tube so that it will move without turing the fork. Then turn the top bolt that goes into the star nut in the steerer tube so that it is just barely snug. Do not tighten this bolt!! Now, realign the handlebars with the fork and wheel and re-tighten the stem bolts.

You should be all set. :)

If you've already done the above; did you put the headset on yourself? If so, you will need to make sure you did it correctly with all the correct special tools. Take a look over at Parktool for proper headset installation and adjuistment instructions: http://parktool.com/repair_help/howfix_headthreadless.shtml

I sure hope this isn't it, but the first thing that comes to my mind is an ovalized headtube. If you are using the correct procedure for snugging it up and it's still loose or gets that way quickly then what else could it be?

It sounds like you installed it yourself. Did you have trouble? What method?

I'm riding an old Rocky now with an ovalized headtube that I've successfully shimmed, so I may be more prone to this answer, sorry.

Hoping it's something else. Cheers :beer:

If it repeatedly needs to be tightened it probably is the headset. I just had the same problem on my wifes bike so I bought a Cane Creek S-2 headset for about 25 bucks at www.pricepoint.com and the problem is solved. If you buy a new one and install it yourself follow the directions to make sure everything is in the right order and such. The special tools mentioned above are really expensive so what I did was I got a block of wood about 4"x4" and 1" thick. I placed the headset cups in the headtube as evenly and deeply as I could by hand which wasn't very much then I put the block of wood on top of the headset and hammered it in. It went in perfectly straight and easy no damage and works perfectly. I know it's not exactly the proper way to do it but it was defintely cheaper than buying a $130 headset press.