Bicycle Mechanics - Stiff headset

I recently brought my bike into the shop for a "tune-up" and when I took it home and test rode it, the headset feels really stiff. If I turn it more than about 30 degrees from straight ahead, it actually sticks in place, and if I let go, it will stay in that position. (It requires only a miniscule amount of force to get it un-stuck, so it's not causing a safety problem.)

Is this normal? Previously, I could turn it all the way to either side, and it would not stick. The bike used to be very twitchy and responsive, and I've learned to ride it that way, so the handling feels very weird now.

It feels more stable when riding now, but it's also much less responsive, almost laggy.

My frame is a Cannondale CAAD5 with an integrated headset. Is there an easy adjustment I can make (Consider me a novice at bicycle maintenance.), or should I take it back to the shop? I have a long ride tomorrow, so I don't want to take the risk of screwing anything up. :)

Thanks,
Tim

Take it back. You should have smooth swing in the headset. It sounds like they have it to tight, which could wipe out the bearings.

Make sure they did not re-use your old bearings. These get squashed out of circular. ISO grade 25 bearings are what your bike deserves.

My headset bearings are all sealed, so reusing them won't be a problem.

Thanks for your advice; I've made an appointment to have them fix it tonight.

Sometimes the brake or shifter cables (unless you have down-tube shifters) will slightly catch on something, thereby impeding the smooth movement of the steering. This is not noticable while riding.

Although unlikely, it wouldn't hurt to check for this before you take it back.

Louis, thanks for the suggestion. I checked those earlier, and they didn't seem to be hanging up anywhere. But I will check them again before going back to the shop. I definitely noticed a big difference in the steering when riding, though. It seems really sluggish.

Yeah, sounds like they got it a bit too tight.
All good advice above.

Enjoy that big ride tomorrow.

Yep, it was too tight. I'm starting to lose confidence in this bike shop. I brought it back to the shop, and he squirted a bunch of lube into the headset and put it back together and that didn't make a difference. So then he tried to sell me a new headset! I told him that it was less than a year old; there's no way it's worn out! He said he changes his headset 3 times a year! I told him to try loosening it, so he looked at it again and loosened it 1/4 turn, and voila - nice and smooth now. There's no play, so it's not worn out.

So I think I'll start doing my own work on my bike. I bought a set of cheapo tools that will get me going until I have the money for some better ones, and I've downloaded all the Barnett's manuals (thanks Joe!). I'll probably have some questions to post here, too. :)

Thanks,
Tim

The guy at the LBS is an idiot
(hey D*Alex isn't here, someones got to say it).
Squirting Lube into a headset is a good way to ruin it.
No one in their right mind replaces headsets 3 times a year
(well if he's spraying lube he ISN'T in his right mind).
Check to make sure he didn't wash out/thin out the
grease on the bearings, if so repack them.
Here's a great place to start on your repair course,
fixing what this idiot screwed up.

Marty

Oops, sorry, made a typo. Meant to say he squirted grease into the headset. I'll still agree with you that he's an idiot =)

well thats better, I had visions of this
guy using something like WD40 on a headset.


Marty

you know, this new hedset me and my freind put in was kinda stiff, but after we ajusted it, now it werkd pretty good. in fact, it kinda self-centers itself, i never had a bike like that before.

Originally posted by L Lortami
you know, this new hedset me and my freind put in was kinda stiff, but after we ajusted it, now it werkd pretty good. in fact, it kinda self-centers itself, i never had a bike like that before.

-That means it is too tight or it has been overtightened in the past which caused damage to the races.

-Ryan