Bicycle Mechanics - Loose Headset

Greetings,

Has anyone had any experience with a headset that comes loose frequently?

The headset on my K2 is a threadless on. Last weekend after doing an organized ride with Donna I noticed it was loose - VERY loose :(. The funny thing is I didn't discover it the night before when I was wiping the bike down. Anyway I took it to the shop and they tightened it up again. I think the over tightened it though because the bars would not move much on their own so I took it back to have it adjusted again.

Last night I noticed it was way loose again so I tightened it myself and after the ride today I dropped it off at the shop again. This time I asked them to do a thorough inspection of the headset to make sure nothing was damaged. I should pick up the bike early next week.

The headset is a Ritchey - has anyone else had any problems with them?

Thanks in advance for any hints/tips.

Zack

Make sure the top cap isnt bottoming out (hitting or coming in contact) with the steerer. There needs to be enough room for the cap to pull, without the steerer being pulled all the way up to the cap. Take off the cap and check....if its really close add a spacer under the stem.

^What Klein said.
We've had no problems with folks at our shop using any Ritchey headsets.

Thanks for the replies guys. I'll check this out when I get the bike back from the shop.

Zack

I just had a similar problem, there was just a bit less room left than needed, and the treads actually broke off because of the fatigue i guess. Warranty covered mine.

Two words. "Chris King"

mrfix: I took a look at the Chris King headsets they do look great! I'm going to switch to one of those whenever I get a carbon fork for the bike.

Zack

I have a Deore XT (low stack height) on my Concorde right now. I am strongly considering going out and blowing some cash on a Chris King Locknut. It is soooo smooth.

Just wanted to update everyone on my loose headset saga :(

This past Saturday I noticed it was loose again so I tightened it myself. Saw the bike shop owner at the ride Saturday morning and told him and he told me to drop it off at the shop after the ride.

Picked up the bike yesterday and went for a short 6 mile ride with Donna. I brought the bike in to work and had planned to ride 10 miles at lunch but when I was checking out the bike I noticed it was loose again! UGH! The bike is back at the shop. I told them that I wanted a brand new headset installed and asked about a Chris King. They said they would check on it and let me know if one was available and there isn't one. Seems the K2 frame has an integrated headset and Chris King refuses to make one. I'll post my email to Chris King and their response in another thread.

Zack

So its an integrated hey? Theres a million different more ways for an integrated to be loose over a regular headset. Even if king did make an integrated, the shop wouldent just give you one for free.

KleinMp99: My offer to the shop was order a Chris King and I'll pay the difference between the Chris King and whatever replacement they were going to buy. I didn't expect to upgrade to the Chris King headset for free.

Zack