Bicycle Mechanics - Headset making crackling noises under no pressure

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Deathmobile
02-03-12, 06:29 AM
For a while now the stock Ritchey Logic Comp headset on my Cross Check has been making a crackling/creaking sound whenever I turn the bars one way or the other. It's not loud enough to be heard on any city street, but it really bothers me on the stand and is also probably inductive of a soon-to-be-actual problem rather than just the noise.

I've got the headset set up with the proper bearing preload, and just regreased the looseball bearings in the lower assembly but to no avail. What else can I do aside from just replacing the headset?

Thanks for the time and suggestions, BF.

kingsting
02-03-12, 07:09 AM
The noise may not be coming from the headset. Check the shifter cable braze-ons. Sometimes you get some noise from the ferrules moving in the braze-on. A little cleaning and some lube will take care of that.
Deathmobile
02-03-12, 07:56 AM
Thanks! I'll give that a try when I get home. The housings are pretty old, so it might be time for a new set anyway.

dstrong
02-03-12, 08:02 AM
The noise may not be coming from the headset. Check the shifter cable braze-ons. Sometimes you get some noise from the ferrules moving in the braze-on. A little cleaning and some lube will take care of that.

+1. Everytime I turned my bars to the right there was a small "snap"...I thought it was coming from the headset...turned out that once the cable housing reached a certain angle the ferrule would re-seat and make that sound.