What's the rub?
11-18-13, 05:18 PM
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What's the rub?
I just got a beautiful Felt Z6 (2011) via eBay and in doing a first ride, I noticed that I get a distinct friction rub when I turn the handlebar toward the left or right. Only when I turn the handlebar nearly 90 degrees does it rotate smoothly with no rub. I'm new to bike mechanics so I'm wondering if it's a simple fix or something more complex. Advice??
11-18-13, 05:37 PM
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One possibility that once happened to me, headset binding from overtightening of stem cap. Easy to resolve, can't hurt to try in any case; loosen stem cap, loosen the bolts that hold the stem on the steerer tube, wiggle the stem up a hair to make sure you're not binding any more, then tighten the stem cap back down just snug. Not hard by any means. Then tighten the stem bolts also snug, make sure your stem is straight (in line with the wheel, handlebars perfectly perpendicular to the wheel) and crank those stem bolts down good and tight. (At this point the stem cap becomes irrelevant except to protect you from coring yourself in an accident).
If you're working with carbon steerer tube (likely) or stem (possibly?) you'll want to use a torque wrench to replace "snug" and "good and tight". Maybe somebody else can weigh in for that.
If you're working with carbon steerer tube (likely) or stem (possibly?) you'll want to use a torque wrench to replace "snug" and "good and tight". Maybe somebody else can weigh in for that.
11-18-13, 05:55 PM
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Your problem could have a number of causes, from a bent steerer to a displaced seal.
As noted above, it could also be simple over-tightening, though this usually causes stiffness that doesn't vary as much with angle.
Start by taking the headset apart completely, and checking the edges where the various parts move with respect each other, for any hint of rubbing where there shouldn't be. If all looks good, reassemble. If the seals are removable, take them off and assemble without them to see if it changes anything.
If you cannot locate the issue, and field strip and assemble doesn't solve anything, the odds favor an alignment issue, usually from a bent steerer. If this is a steel steerer fork, and given that the bike is off ebay, the odds of a bent steerer from a front end collision go up. All is not lost if that's the case, minor bends respond well to skilled straightening, but this is limited to minor bends.
As noted above, it could also be simple over-tightening, though this usually causes stiffness that doesn't vary as much with angle.
Start by taking the headset apart completely, and checking the edges where the various parts move with respect each other, for any hint of rubbing where there shouldn't be. If all looks good, reassemble. If the seals are removable, take them off and assemble without them to see if it changes anything.
If you cannot locate the issue, and field strip and assemble doesn't solve anything, the odds favor an alignment issue, usually from a bent steerer. If this is a steel steerer fork, and given that the bike is off ebay, the odds of a bent steerer from a front end collision go up. All is not lost if that's the case, minor bends respond well to skilled straightening, but this is limited to minor bends.
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An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
“Never argue with an idiot. He will only bring you down to his level and beat you with experience.”, George Carlin
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FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
“Never argue with an idiot. He will only bring you down to his level and beat you with experience.”, George Carlin
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
11-18-13, 07:56 PM
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Thanks, that helps. I'm betting on over-tightening, which will be resolved when I swap stems, which I need to do anyway. The bike is in such pristine condition (orig. owner says only 20 miles on it!) I doubt a collision. The tires look like the have hardly seen asphalt. The only negative I can
see are the Microshift shifters. But Ive never tried them before.
see are the Microshift shifters. But Ive never tried them before.
11-19-13, 01:36 AM
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If you're lucky, it'll be as easy as overtightening. But if not, check out FB's ideas, he's the one who really knows what's going on.
11-25-13, 07:25 AM
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Many thanks to all. My friendly LBS mech. did me the favor of checking things out and torqing all the bolts and that did the trick! Learned my lesson. Torwue wrnch is on my wish list.
