My handlebars/fork or something is crooked!?
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Laconia, NH
Posts: 17
Bikes: Bridgestone Kabuki SSD
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
My handlebars/fork or something is crooked!?
So I just noticed this today on my first 15 mile bike ride. I don't know if it was like this before today or if I did something while I was driving the bike to the place I was starting the ride. I have a Jeep Cherokee so I just laid the bike down in the back with the seats down, once I got there, I carefully pulled the bike out. Partway through the trip I noticed that I needed to turn the handlebars to the left to go straight. Any ideas on how this happened and how to fix it?? I'm very perplexed and a little desperate.
In this shot I have the wheel lined up with the frame of the bike.
In this one, I have the handlebars lined up with the bike
In this shot I have the wheel lined up with the frame of the bike.
In this one, I have the handlebars lined up with the bike
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: So Cal
Posts: 2,678
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
looks like the stem slipped and moved it should not be that loose
loosen pinch bolts on stem strigthen it out reset preload and tigthen pinch bolts while your at it I'd check
all the other bolts to make sure something else isn't loose.
if it slipped
that easy it was not tight!
loosen pinch bolts on stem strigthen it out reset preload and tigthen pinch bolts while your at it I'd check
all the other bolts to make sure something else isn't loose.
if it slipped
that easy it was not tight!
__________________
It may not be fancy but it gets me were I need to go.
https://www.jtgraphics.net/cyclist_bicycles.htm
It may not be fancy but it gets me were I need to go.
https://www.jtgraphics.net/cyclist_bicycles.htm
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 6,401
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 13 Times
in
13 Posts
I think your diagnosis is correct, but the pictures appear to show a quill stem. She might lose her mind trying to "reset preload".
Niki, at the top of the stem is what looks to me like a rubber cover. When you remove it (just pry it out with fingernails or a screwdriver) you'll find an Allen bolt. Loosen the bolt a turn or two and then give it a little tap with a hammer. This will free the stem which you can then align with the wheel. Once everything is perfectly straight, tighten it back up, and put a little effort into it. Replace the cover and you're good to go.
Or, just take it back to where you got it, and they'll fix it for free - and if smart, check the other bolts as well, because that's really not something that should have been loose to begin with...
Niki, at the top of the stem is what looks to me like a rubber cover. When you remove it (just pry it out with fingernails or a screwdriver) you'll find an Allen bolt. Loosen the bolt a turn or two and then give it a little tap with a hammer. This will free the stem which you can then align with the wheel. Once everything is perfectly straight, tighten it back up, and put a little effort into it. Replace the cover and you're good to go.
Or, just take it back to where you got it, and they'll fix it for free - and if smart, check the other bolts as well, because that's really not something that should have been loose to begin with...
#4
Senior Member
NikiMae31, Definately an easy fix following Six jours' advice. For whatever reason the stem wasn't tight enough and better you should find it before a ride than for learnng of the condition while actually riding! Be sure to fix it correctly, don't be tempted to simply align the handle bars.
Brad
Brad
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: So Cal
Posts: 2,678
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Yes now that I can see it, it is a quill loosen the center bolt allign it and tigthen was hard to see on my Iphone LOL
__________________
It may not be fancy but it gets me were I need to go.
https://www.jtgraphics.net/cyclist_bicycles.htm
It may not be fancy but it gets me were I need to go.
https://www.jtgraphics.net/cyclist_bicycles.htm
#6
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Laconia, NH
Posts: 17
Bikes: Bridgestone Kabuki SSD
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Thanks everyone for the advice! I thought that it would be kind of an easy fix. I'll fix it a little later on today and let you all know how it goes. :-)
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 33,656
Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!
Mentioned: 39 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2026 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,095 Times
in
741 Posts
Straddle the bike while you are adjusting the alignment and sight down the center of the stem's handlebar clamp so it exactly centers on the front tire. If you try to align it while standing beside the bike you will never get it exactly right and the slight mis-alignment will drive you crazy.
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Roswell, GA
Posts: 8,319
Bikes: '93 Trek 750, '92 Schwinn Crisscross, '93 Mongoose Alta
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1438 Post(s)
Liked 1,092 Times
in
723 Posts
MikiMae31: While you have the stem loose it would probably be a good idea to pull it out and make sure it has a light coat of grease on it to avoid it seizing in place down the road. This is common with quill stems and can be a major headache.
#9
Bianchi Goddess
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Shady Pines Retirement Fort Wayne, In
Posts: 29,725
Bikes: Too many to list here check my signature.
Mentioned: 191 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2912 Post(s)
Liked 2,836 Times
in
1,460 Posts
that is a really bad place to carry a lock
__________________
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
#10
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Laconia, NH
Posts: 17
Bikes: Bridgestone Kabuki SSD
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Bartmuley
Bicycle Mechanics
10
06-10-17 01:17 AM
Reeses
Bicycle Mechanics
30
05-21-12 01:28 PM