Aheadset

[Malicious Afterthought]

When building the RTS I removed the Onza aheadset from the Kona. I did this by drifting out the cups wivvanammeransumwood. Then, I stuck them in the freezer for 30 minutes, and installed them into the head tube of the GT.

Everything fitted together easily after that, and it was tight when I went for a short test ride. Since then, it has become progressively looser and I'm at a loss as to why this is. I've a feeling that the steerer tube might be a few mm too short, so the cap can't tighten down on to it properly, as it doesn't seem to tighten any further.

So, are my options:

i) stick a new star fangled nut down the steerer tube, but not quite as far;
ii) new stem;
iii) take everything apart and reinstall it;
iv) take it down the LBS and throw money at the problem, go to the pub, and return a few hours later with it all fixed?

Option (iv) is tempting as they could then sort the rear brakes out and true the wheels as I'm far to busy and important to do such menial tasks, and the Workroom Annexe at MaliTowers isn't heated, but are the remaining ideas any good?

 

[Rod_Saetan]

If the steerer is too short, your options are generally thusly:

Get a lower stack headset
Get a lower stack stem
Get some new forks with a longer steerer

isn't it.

 

[Charlieboy28]

it may be that perhaps something wasnt sitting right when first set up and has now popped into place, causing the looseness, in theory your stem alone should hold everything together , i had a similar situation and used a slightly longer stem bolt, worth a try

you could also look at using a head doctor, or one of them azonic headlock type things which you can pic up for a few pounds

 

[Charlieboy28]

your main worry though is have you enough steerer for the stem to grip onto you only want about 5mm of air between steerer and top of stem :shock: :shock: :shock:

 

[Malicious Afterthought]

your main worry though is have you enough steerer for the stem to grip onto you only want about 5mm of air between steerer and top of stem :shock: :shock: :shock:

I think there's about 2 to 3 mm gap.

By 'stem bolt' do you mean the bolt that attaches to the SFN?

Thanks, by the way.

 

[Charlieboy28]

yes, cap colt, headset bolt, erm probably shouldnt of called it a stem bolt throw back to quill stems,

seems your steerer is long enough then, is there a gap between the cap and steerer does it sit right, i.e not proud of the stem but seated nicely if you know what i mean?

if i was you i would loosen everything off joggle it so your happy it sits right, tighten the cap bolt a bit so it pushes down and compresses and holds everything, then tighten your stem bolts, then tighten everything, oh find a longer cap bolt first

 

[Malicious Afterthought]

yes, cap colt, headset bolt, erm probably shouldnt of called it a stem bolt throw back to quill stems,

seems your steerer is long enough then, is there a gap between the cap and steerer does it sit right, i.e not proud of the stem but seated nicely if you know what i mean?

if i was you i would loosen everything off joggle it so your happy it sits right, tighten the cap bolt a bit so it pushes down and compresses and holds everything, then tighten your stem bolts, then tighten everything, oh find a longer cap bolt first

I'll check to see how the cap fits (are you going to wear it? - Ed) and if it doesn't I can work around that, spacing it up by 1mm, I guess. Or I could swap the stem for my other one. That's solve that problem in the first.

As regards the second, I need to pick up some more bolts anyway, so I'll go get them, and try this approach first, as it is less effort.

Much appreciated.

 

[Charlieboy28]

yep, the headset bolt is not load bearing,it only for compressing and adjusting, thats why the hope head doctor bolts are made of aluminium, its the stem that holds every thing, some top caps are shallow, some have a deep bottom, so it might be easier to change top cap, through the split at the back of the stem, you should be able to see that the top cap is seated and there is a gap between steerer and top cap

headsets do settle a bit when first fitted too

 

[MikeD]

that the steerer tube might be a few mm too short, so the cap can't tighten down on to it properly

Um. The cap's not meant to tighten down onto the steerer, it pushes down on the top of the stem. If the steerer's too long (ie less than 2mm below the top of the stem) you won't be able to get enough preload on.

At risk of teaching you to suck eggs, you are loosening the stem clamp bolts before tightening the top cap bolt, yes?

 

[ishaw]

Just a theory, as it happened on my RTS, but the SFN started to pull through, so when you preloaded it all up, it was not as preloaded as you first thought so after riding, you would eventually get some play at the front end.

Other than that, make sure you've tightened up the stem bolts after preloading, and if you have a set of forks with a removeable steerer, check those bolts aren't loose at all, with the steerer working loose.