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Old headset spanner for touring

Old 06-15-09 | 07:52 AM
  #1  
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Got an old Peugeot
 
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From: I'm from Israel

Bikes: I had a Trek 1200

Old headset spanner for touring

Hi,
In order to tighten an old headset I have two big spanners which are very heavy.
Is there a way to tighten the headset, if it becomes loose, on the road without the spanners?
A hackish way will do ok, because we will be in France, Spain and Italy, but still we need to be able to ride with a loose headset 100km, until we find a place to tighten it.

Thanks,
Kfir
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Old 06-15-09 | 08:23 AM
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Adjust and tighten the headset(s) properly before your trip. Use grease and get the nuts well tightened against each other. You shouldn't have a problem. In the unlikely event it loosens up on you, you can stop at any auto mechanic shop and ask to borrow a wrench, channel locks, whatever to get you to the next bike shop. It takes some trial and error, but it can be done with one wrench on just the top nut.

I wouldn't carry any headset tools on a tour -- too heavy and bulky, and most likely unnecessary.
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Old 06-15-09 | 08:31 AM
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Got an old Peugeot
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 642
Likes: 0
From: I'm from Israel

Bikes: I had a Trek 1200

I guess I didn't close it well, the first time, and it got loose. I did close it again. Hopefully it is now closed good.
The problem is that I don't have the feeling how much to tighten.

Thanks for your reply,
Kfir
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Old 06-15-09 | 09:41 AM
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From: Right where I'm supposed to be

Bikes: Franklin Frames Custom, Rivendell Bombadil

If the headset was installed properly, with enough gap between the top nut and the fork, it should not loosen with proper torque on the nut. Headsets tend to loosen when there is not enough of that gap, even if you tighten very well.

You can check it yourself or have a trusted mechanic check it for you.

If done properly, you should have no worries about it on the road.
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Old 06-15-09 | 09:54 AM
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Bikes: Coppi racer, Old school BMX, some random a fixed wheel convertion

check these out.
https://www.abundantadventures.com/quads.html#HEADLOCK
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