Can a headset be too tight?
08-17-05, 10:01 AM
#1
The Weird Beard
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2005
Location: COS
Posts: 8,554
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
Can a headset be too tight?
A search did not answer this question, but the allen screw which seems to secure the stem to the top of the fork (Surly 1x1's on a Raleigh M50 DX) seems to be loose. I'm worried about over-tightening as it never seems to get to the point where one can say "that's tight." I feel a very small amount of play in the fork when I bounce it lightly on the front tire. I have the same set up on my Giant Rainier and do not have this problem. Both forks were installed by the same technician. I just don't want to break anything.
08-17-05, 10:17 AM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,428
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Originally Posted by Toddorado
A search did not answer this question, but the allen screw which seems to secure the stem to the top of the fork (Surly 1x1's on a Raleigh M50 DX) seems to be loose. I'm worried about over-tightening as it never seems to get to the point where one can say "that's tight." I feel a very small amount of play in the fork when I bounce it lightly on the front tire. I have the same set up on my Giant Rainier and do not have this problem. Both forks were installed by the same technician. I just don't want to break anything.
08-17-05, 10:19 AM
#5
Ono!
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Seattle
Posts: 643
Bikes: 2006 Cannondale R800
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Okay. First you need to loosen the bolts toward the rear of the stem - I don't know if you did that or not. Then slowly tighten the top bolt until you start feeling more resistance. Test it for play by applying the front brake and rocking the bike back and forth. You should not hear or feel any knocking. Once the knocking is gone, tighten the top bolt about another half-turn, and check the fork for free, non-binding rotation. If both these checks are good, re-align the stem and tighten the bolts toward the rear of the stem.
08-17-05, 10:26 AM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Montreal
Posts: 6,521
Bikes: Peugeot Hybrid, Minelli Hybrid
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
The bolt on the top is for adjusting the load on the bearings. Once the adjustment is made and the bolts on the back of the stem are tightened it doesnt matter how tight or loose the bolt on top is.
08-17-05, 10:59 AM
#8
Hopped up on goofballs
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Severna Park, MD
Posts: 107
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I found out the hard way that the bolt can be too tight. I was tightening mine when the bolt snapped. I took it to the LBS and they got the star nut out of the steerer tube for me. That was when I decided to read some directions (ParkTool is great). It's easy when you do it the right way.
