the beef

When I went to buy my road bike, I went with the '05 Bianchi Brava instead of the '06 in an effort to save $50. Blah. Later I realized that what I got in return was a threaded headset (they switched to threadless for the '06), and the snow white paint job (they had a Celeste paint job for 2006.. WHY did I not go for that? WHYYYY**********).

Point is, the headset's been coming loose. A lot. Say, every week or so. I've brought it into the bike shop to have them tighten it twice already, both times it's come loose again within a short time. Arg. I hate that feeling of your stem wiggling around in the steer tube!

So my plan is to go down to the LBS tommorow and basically ask for a new headset or something - I'm still under their sort of 90-day new-bike period. But I need to know what might be the root of my problem, so that I can have something to back myself up. Got ideas? I asked a different bike shop and the dude mentioned a potential problem with the bearing cup.. I'm stumped, though.

roadfix

If properly adjusted, threaded headsets should not come loose as you describe.

giantcfr1

This sounds like a problem I had many years ago. A bike shop instauled the wrong size headset / cup into my head tube and it ended up stretching the head tube. I had to get a sleeve put in when I replaced the headset. Does the headset move slightly when you brake hard?
I hope this is not your problem.
Steve.

the beef

Yeah, the headset moves slightly when I jam on the brakes. The thing is, it HAS been adjusted properly. Twice, as I said in my first post, by the LBS themselves. So I'm thinking this is something more than an 'improper adjustment'.

tlupfer

i can't imagine any reason why the bike shop would have installed a headset on a new bianchi brava or why the robots that put the bike together would mysteriously jam the wrong size headset in...in fact, i can't even imagine how one would be able to put an incorrectly sized headset cup into a headtube. that would require hulk like strength and a tub of park grease. are you sure the cup wasn't just installed at an angle? this can sometimes cause headtube deformation.

the problem could be any number of things. take it back to the shop and explain the situation.

decline

To give you any comfort i purchased the exact same bike (except with silver paint job) and my headset was doing the same thing after 2 days. I went into the shop and they replaced it with a ritchey comp stem and neck and now its fine. ***** your way to victory the headsets on the 05's are ****ty and you shouldent ride with them for safety issues.

the beef

Here's an update for you all - now I really need help.
I took it into the shop, and they uninstalled the headset, cleaned it out, reinstalled it, and tightened it back up, saying it should be fine. The mechanic mentioned something about damaged threads, but from what I got they had fixed it. Well, not fine. After a 40-mile hard ride yesterday, the headset came loose again. Reeeally loose. My bike's 3-month free-repair period also ran out yesterday.

So what am I going to do? I don't know if they'd give me a new free headset, I kind of stripped the outside plastic of the headset by turning it with a clamp wrench (though doing no functional damage) a while back. I guess I could buy a new headset and ask them to install it for free. Or go for a threaded to threadless adapter? I don't know if that'd solve the problem.

Ugh. This is seriously pissing me off. And I'm definitely picking up a 32 mm flat headset wrench next time I'm down there.

Crayon

Sounds like someone didn't fully seat the cups and/or didn't fully jam the locknut down. Another possibility is that the frame's headtube needs to be refaced. Talk to the shop's owner, maybe he can make it right.

Additionally, you might want to consider a new headset. Chris King makes a good threaded headset, either the grip-nut or traditional model, although they're kind of pricey.

SDRider

I would take it back and demand they replace the bike. Mention that you heard the mechanic say the threads were damaged and because of all the trouble you want them to replace the bike under warranty.

merlinextraligh

+1. At least a new headset under warranty.

SEAtrain

I've been experiencing a similiar problem. My fork has damaged threads. The local LBS chased the threads earlier this year, but the head set continues to loosen so I'm continually tightening down every couple of weekds. I think "chasing the threads" means they cleaned them up with a die?

At any rate, I theorize the locknut is tightening in the damaged area of my fork so it's prone to loosen. My next step, is to add another keyed washer between the locknut and adjustable race. Thereby, moving the locknut away from the damaged area. I'm hoping I won't have to replace the fork.

We'll see how my theory pans out.

SEA

the beef

Gah. So I might even be looking at a possible fork replacement??

What I'm feeling now is that I'll have to go down to the LBS and demand them do something for me to correct this problem. I'm just unsure what I need to push for and how far I must insist.

Here's the lowdown again. I'm now two days out of my LBS's 90-day free service period, but this has been happening since day one and it still hasn't been resolved. The bike shop has tightened it twice, each time it's come loose again. The last time I was there, the mechanic gave me the impression that if a replacement headset was needed then I'd have to pay, mentioninig that I had supposedly stripped the headset by riding on it while it was loose. Which would NOT be my fault, given that it had been coming loose since day one. However, it may complicate things that I once tightened it up with an ordinary crescent (stripping the finish but getting the job done correctly) - I suppose they're trying to make that look like i had messed something up.

What if they tell me I'll have to pay for a new headset? What if it turns out the fork is at fault - do I go ask for a new fork? The 05 is still pretty much new, albeit with signs of hard riding. So I'm not sure how much of a position I'm in to demand a replacement this/that.

krazyderek

See what they'll do, if they want you to pay to solve the problem.... try and return it, sell it back, sell it locally, or sell it on ebay, then go and buy another bike from a nicer shop.

Has anyone thought to suggest lockthread? that stuff can work wonders, or even a regular dab of grease to any contacting metal surfaces including threads.