Basic questions re headset
12-15-05, 12:17 AM
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Basic questions re headset
Hi, nice forum, I think I'll stick around.
I'm hoping for some mechanical help/advice.
I noticed some play in my headset. So, I followed some instructions from the net on how to adjust it (it is the threadless type). However, I cannot eliminate the play without overtightening. At a certain level of tightness the play begins to "stick", ie it doesn't play freely but it goes "clunk" as it shifts from the foreward to backward position as if some friction resistance was being overcome. At this point it still turns freely but if I want to eliminate the play entirely I have to tighten it so far that it doesn't turn very freely. Moreover when it's overtight it also feels slightly "crunchy". So I suspect the bearing or something else is kaput --- would I be right?
The bike is less than 12 months old ... do you think this would come under warranty or is it "normal wear and tear"? (Doesn't seem very "normal" to me but then various other parts of the bike don't seem very durable either, pretty annoying when it cost > $1000 .. it's a Trek btw). Even if it does come under warranty I'll be hit for labor costs. How hard would it be to replace a headset myself, not having seen it done before?
I'm hoping for some mechanical help/advice.
I noticed some play in my headset. So, I followed some instructions from the net on how to adjust it (it is the threadless type). However, I cannot eliminate the play without overtightening. At a certain level of tightness the play begins to "stick", ie it doesn't play freely but it goes "clunk" as it shifts from the foreward to backward position as if some friction resistance was being overcome. At this point it still turns freely but if I want to eliminate the play entirely I have to tighten it so far that it doesn't turn very freely. Moreover when it's overtight it also feels slightly "crunchy". So I suspect the bearing or something else is kaput --- would I be right?
The bike is less than 12 months old ... do you think this would come under warranty or is it "normal wear and tear"? (Doesn't seem very "normal" to me but then various other parts of the bike don't seem very durable either, pretty annoying when it cost > $1000 .. it's a Trek btw). Even if it does come under warranty I'll be hit for labor costs. How hard would it be to replace a headset myself, not having seen it done before?
12-15-05, 01:17 AM
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What kind of headset is it currently? If you call in warranty and they (trek, or Dexter, as your dealer will know it) send you the exact same type of headset, its really not hard at all, you won't even need specific tools to take care of it. The most specific parts (read, hardest to install without proper tools) are the cups (the two metal cups that actually press into the top and bottom of your headtube) and the crown race (little metal piece that sits on the bottom of the steerer tube on your fork). If its the same headset, you don't have to worry about these things and can just replace the bearings that come from Dexter.
12-15-05, 08:00 AM
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One possibility is that the headtube isn't cut with both ends square and perpendicular to the centerline so the headset cups aren't exactly parallel. The dealer could face the head tube to correct this. Another possibility is that the steerer is slightly bent. Either problem will give the symptoms you describe.
