the beef

I made a similar topic in the roadie forum, but I'd really appreciate a little technical insight/advice.

So I've got a 2005 Bianchi Brava - the last model year to feature a threaded headset w/ quill stem and all. I'm kicking myself right now for not going for the 2006 w/ threadless. Here's the deal.

The stock, 3-month old headset comes loose within a few days of getting tightened up properly. I took it into the bike shop twice - each time they took their wrenches and tightened it, only to have it get loose again on the trail, etc. The third time, they disassembled it, cleaned it, reassembled/tightened it, and said I was good to go. Instead, it came loose again within twenty miles.

I'm now two days out of my LBS's 90-day free service period, but this has been happening since day one and it still hasn't been resolved. The third time I was there, the mechanic gave me the impression that if a replacement headset was needed then I'd have to pay. He mentioned that I had supposedly stripped the headset by riding on it while it was loose, which wouldn't be my fault, given that it had been coming loose since day one. However, it may complicate things that I once tightened it up with an ordinary crescent (stripping the finish but getting the job done correctly) - I suppose they're trying to make that look like i had messed something up.

What if they tell me I'll have to pay for a new headset? What if it turns out the fork is at fault - do I go ask for a new fork? The 05 is still pretty much new, albeit with signs of hard riding. So I'm not sure how much of a position I'm in to demand a replacement this/that. Most of all, I'm wondering what may have caused this problem.

operator

Time to find a new bike shop.

mechBgon

If you tightened it with an adjustable wrench and didn't use finesse, you may have damaged the keyed washer between the locknut and the adjustable cup. Which is better than the alternative: stripping the threads off the fork where the keyed washer sits. Good technique calls for holding the adjustable cup with one wrench while tightening the locknut with another.

If I were your mechanic I'd still try to make it right at no cost, but if you've taken the matter into your own hands and damaged stuff with a 15-inch adjustable wrench instead of bringing it to me, then it's not exactly my fault if I can no longer get the now-damaged parts to stay in adjustment, so don't get too high-&-mighty if that's what the scenario is.

vw addict

Bianchi should take care of a warranty replacement no matter who is at fault.

dafydd

a somewhat ridiculous statement, but effectively true. headsets have to be ridden pretty hard and long for the threads on the adjustable cup or steerer tube to be ruined, and this has obviously been a ongoing problem that the dealer has not been able to resolve (i supsect not enough spacers, which can be just as problematic in a threaded headset as a threadless). either the dealer or bianchi should resolve this issue.

Deanster04

Talk to the owner of the shop. You have had the problem and reported it before the warranty period was up and yet the problem continues. Try a nice approach. This is an unusual problem and the mechanic may be embarrased at not being able to fix easily. A lot of new mechanics don't deal with threaded headsets often any more. Once you tighten the two opposing nuts against the washer they usually take some effort to get apart. See the owner or manager...you should have some luck since word of mouth is the best (or worst) kind of advertising. I am sure that this would not be good for the store. Good Luck.

cs1

I had the same thing happen to my son's Trek MTB. Ours was considerably out of the warranty. Check to see if the locknut is aluminum. If it is, then it's probably stripped. I called around town and found a steel one for $3. Put that sucker on and no problems. My advice is to find a shop that specializes in BMX. They usually have that stuff there. Don't use another aluminum one.

If it is the locknut that failed at least give the shop the opportunity to replace it. It is much cheaper and easier to replace the locknut than an entire headset. Chances are that is all thats wrong. Good luck and I hope it works out well for you.

Tim

misteralz

^^^What he said. Just make sure that you apply some copper grease to the threads and any other bits which will come into contact with dissimilar metals...

misteralz

^^^What he said. Just make sure that you apply some copper grease to the threads and any other bits which will come into contact with dissimilar metals...

cs1

Lots of double posts in the forum lately. I had several myslef. I think the server went nuts. The search feature has been disabled all day.

Tim