Hey I bough a new fixed wheel bike. It's nice and everything but from my first ride I could hear a sound coming from the headset. The sound is like a popcorn popping in a mw oven but not that loud and much duller. It only happens when I brake.

Anyway turned out that the fork is moving inside the head tube. The headset isn't holding it properly. I could move it with my hands. The movement is small but enough to make the parts move when I hit a curb. (I somehow fixed the stopping clicking somehow). I opened it and didn't expect bearings so they all fell on the grass . Don't hate I am a newbie. Anyway I collected them all (or I think so). Anyway the top of the tube had bearings and a cage but the bottom ones were loose as far as I could see. Also I think there is space for more bearings to fit in. However i think that this space is simply for the cage. I'll have a look tomorrow as well.

Do you think that the bearings can just be loose?

cages suck. you dont need them.

people usually get rid of the bottom cage and keep the top for convenience. I just ditch them all and run loose bearings.

you need to tighten your headset properly. the sound most likely was your fork banging around inside the headtube.

psirue I tightened it as much as I could. I broke one screw driver already . What do you mean remove the bottom ones? Will this stop the fork moving inside the headtube?

why the hell are you using a screwdriver to tighten your headset? that doesnt even make sense.

dude - read up a little and quit being a dumb ass.

https://www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=127
https://bicycletutor.com/overhaul-threaded-headset/

Man I am using a hex tool. Actually a bike tool with a lot of hex keys on it. I broke it. Also I am not a dumb ass. There are new headsets which are semi-threaded or I don't know how to call it. It's like a normal headset with a hex bolt on top and no need for spanners or wrenches. That's why I wasn't expecting the bearings - surprise. I was like WTF is that.

I can't take pictures of it cause the bearings at the bottom need 2 hands and I don't have many people around currently but look around the net. It might be a new thing it might be just my bike who knows.

Again if I remove the bottom ones is the fork going to stop jiggling around the headtube?

what are you talking about?

are you saying your threadless headset has loose bearings?

Yes! :d

I like how he explicitly pointed out in his first post that he was a newbie but you still felt it was necessary to highlight his naivete (because after all, headsets are pretty much innate knowledge or at the very least stuff everyone picks up in like jr. high).

I used a hex tool. The headset only has hex bolts. No need for spanners or anything like that. As I said I didn't think it will have bearings at all.

Anyone?

good. glad you enjoyed it.

no.
you didnt use a hex tool on a headset.
you used a hex tool on a stem.
headsets do not have bolts.

if your bearings in your threadless headset are loose and falling all over the place, you need to purchase new bearings, if not a new headset. Have a shop look at it since you dont know what the hell is going on and seem unwilling to read up on the subject.

I also recommend punching the guy you just bought the bike from in the face. He dicked you over.

I am willing to read up but I don't know what and where. You've confused me a bit here. You said that bottom bearings are better loose (you mentioned that a lot of people remove the cage). If so why would I purchase new ones?

I bought the bike from a shop and the shop got it from the manufacturer. There is no need to punch anyone but if you still want to punch it should be the man who designed the bike. He decided what components it should have etc.

hater.

Tutorial on threadless headset: https://bicycletutor.com/adjust-threadless-headset/
https://www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=65

You may be having trouble with the starnut. If it gets out of alignment, it won't tighten down properly. You can pop it off the bolt, reset it on the bolt, slide it down the fork tube, slowly retighten.
https://sheldonbrown.com/gloss_st-z.html#starnut



More useful info: https://sheldonbrown.com/gloss_ha-i.html#headset


https://www.sheldonbrown.com/headsets.html#overhaul

Tip: when replacing the bearings, load the race with a nice grease like Phil Woods or some automotive molybdenum or lithium grease. Place enough ball bearings in there to completely fill it with no spaces then remove one bearing. The grease will keep them from falling out and provide lubrication. Good bearings are cheap; no need to skimp here. When I'm overhauling a headset or bottom bracket on an old bike I just throw the old bearings away.

bbattle thanks a lot.

OK so I will check tomorrow because I think the bottom crown race (or maybe it's a seal) wasn't properly into the tube. Also I think I've adjusted it in the wrong way. I tightened the pinch bolts before tightening the top cap. I will check tomorrow guys. Thank you a lot for the answers. Hopefully I will be able to get rid of this problem.

Don't overtighten the top cap screw. Repeat: do not overtighten the top cap screw.
I will be nice and suggest that you take the bike in to a competent shop when they're not busy and ask someone to look it over and to show you what they are doing while they do it. A 6-pack of socially acceptable beverage will help with the interchange.

Yes, you are correct. You must not tighten the pinch bolts before the top cap.

The top cap pulls down to get the correct tension on the headset bearings '(don't tighten hard, just enough to eliminate play). Then tighten the pinch bolts, ensuring the handlebars are aligned with the front wheel.

It's a pretty basic simple thing that is easy to read up on, hence the annoyance of some people.

for future reference, before posting on here, or touching your bike without knowledge of what you are doing, go to the Parktools website as they list instructions and photos of how to do just about anything you could ever need.

Not all threadless headsets have cartridge bearings. I have 3, 1 Campagnolo, 2 generic headsets that use loose balls or caged balls.

I have loose balls.