headset issues
#1
aka mattio
Thread Starter
headset issues
headset issues:
i have a ritchey logic [https://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...eid=&pagename= ] headset on my bike--i bought it thinking, "well, i don't have much money, and a headset is just a headset. how important can it be?"
well that bit me in the arse. the damn thing won't stay in adjustment. i'll take the play out of the thing, ride a bit, and after oh, say, between five and twenty miles, there's play again. sometimes very bad, and it's ridiculous, and frustrating. to be fair to it, i ride on some pretty rough roads, but still.
i might not get the opportunity to replace it too soon. can chronic play cause any unforeseen damage to, i don't know, my headtube or steerer?
what do folks recommend for a good/affordable upgrade? say, inside the $40 range. 1 1/8", threadless...
i have a ritchey logic [https://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...eid=&pagename= ] headset on my bike--i bought it thinking, "well, i don't have much money, and a headset is just a headset. how important can it be?"
well that bit me in the arse. the damn thing won't stay in adjustment. i'll take the play out of the thing, ride a bit, and after oh, say, between five and twenty miles, there's play again. sometimes very bad, and it's ridiculous, and frustrating. to be fair to it, i ride on some pretty rough roads, but still.
i might not get the opportunity to replace it too soon. can chronic play cause any unforeseen damage to, i don't know, my headtube or steerer?
what do folks recommend for a good/affordable upgrade? say, inside the $40 range. 1 1/8", threadless...
#2
ganbatte!
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Cane Creeks are nice, and can be found for cheap. FSA headsets are also quite nice and often on eBay in that price range.
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#3
J.A.M
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while we are at it. what about threaded 1" in the 50.00 or less range. hmmm.
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#4
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Perhaps I'm clueless, but I'm not sure how your headset can be coming loose provided everything is properly tightened up. Threadless headsets just don't come loose the way theraded do (and even then it's again a question of not using enough torque).
While nothing special, Ritchey doesn't make garbage.
While nothing special, Ritchey doesn't make garbage.
#5
aka mattio
Thread Starter
maybe Ritchey doesn't make garbage, BT, but this was a pretty bottom of the barrel headset...
would it be a question of torque on the top cap prior to tightening the bolts holding the stem to the steerer, or, as i would assume from your comment, just torquing the **** out of the bolts on the stem?
would it be a question of torque on the top cap prior to tightening the bolts holding the stem to the steerer, or, as i would assume from your comment, just torquing the **** out of the bolts on the stem?
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Originally Posted by queerpunk
would it be a question of torque on the top cap prior to tightening the bolts holding the stem to the steerer, or, as i would assume from your comment, just torquing the **** out of the bolts on the stem?
Since you're not noticing the stem move around, I wonder if you've got enough preload on the cap bolt.
Edit: but if Ritchey has a reputation for this, maybe I'm just talking out of my ass. It's been known to happen.
#8
hello
There's nothing wrong with that headset. I've used $5 generic crap headsets which performed fine. Are you preloading it properly before cinching the stem bolts..?
#9
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I use the Cane Creek C2 headset. No complaints so far. I picked it up at eBay for ~20 +s/h.
#10
aka mattio
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by bostontrevor
maybe I'm just talking out of my ass. It's been known to happen.
...i thought your breath smelled funny...
#12
aka mattio
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by The Fixer
There's nothing wrong with that headset.
Are you preloading it properly before cinching the stem bolts..?
#13
J.A.M
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of these two which would you choose for low end headset...
https://cgi.ebay.com/Ritchey-Logic-Th...QQcmdZViewItem
https://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-in-box-Tange...QQcmdZViewItem
https://cgi.ebay.com/Ritchey-Logic-Th...QQcmdZViewItem
https://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-in-box-Tange...QQcmdZViewItem
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#17
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Originally Posted by Jamtastic
of these two which would you choose for low end headset...
https://cgi.ebay.com/Ritchey-Logic-Th...QQcmdZViewItem
https://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-in-box-Tange...QQcmdZViewItem
https://cgi.ebay.com/Ritchey-Logic-Th...QQcmdZViewItem
https://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-in-box-Tange...QQcmdZViewItem
or
https://cgi.ebay.com/Dura-Ace-1-seale...QQcmdZViewItem
#18
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I just installed one of these on my steamroller (was going cheap as well), and was having a similar problem without evan getting the bike on the road. I would install the little bugger and there would be play back and forth between the stem and frame. The reason that was happening was that bearings in the retainers are two sizes. I believe the larger bearings need to go on the bottom and the smaller on the top. If you have them switched everything can't fit together and tighten correctly. Maybe go to the Ritchey website to confirm I have the what/where correct, but once I got this straightened out I have had zero problems.
#19
Senior Member
Originally Posted by The Fixer
Both cups and fork crown race pressed and seated as far as they go?
#20
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Originally Posted by Jamtastic
while we are at it. what about threaded 1" in the 50.00 or less range. hmmm.
Campy Chorus headset are about $50 on eBay. I use one on my fixie, and I like it a lot.