Originally Posted by
SurferRosa
This is an example of how a bicycle works through a simple machine: two nuts lock together on a threaded bolt. It's how hubs work. It's how a bottom bracket works. It's how pedals work.
First, throw away the notched lock nut. As in, in the trash. Replace it with an aluminum headset spacer from your local bike shop. This will make adjusting your headset soooo much easier.
The adjustable cup of your headset has flats for a wrench. The top lock nut has flats for a wrench. Use two wrenches to lock these two pieces together with your new spacer in between.
You can use a regular adjustable wrench (without teeth!) on the top lock nut. Use a specific Park Tool headset wrench on the adjustable cup. Don't have one? Look on eBay.
Park Tools has excellent videos on YouTube.
Fully agree. The way it is set up now, it’s belt, suspenders, duck tape,
and staples. The notched spacer is completely unneeded. I might suggest getting a spacer with a tab which helps to keep the headset tight but, in a pinch, there is nothing wrong with just a spacer.