GT RTS All Terra Mountain Bike with Girvin Vector Forks

[Dave_H]

Seriously - go to your LBS, get them to do it and watch what they do. There's only so much that can be explained via an internet forum and a bunch of online information.

You'll get all of your answers in an hour or so rather than protracted over many weeks.

Take a tray of cream cakes and keep them topped up on tea/coffee whilst they're doing the work. That way they won't mind you watching, will listen to and answer your other questions, and will be happy to see you in the future (particularly if you bring more cakes. )

 

[TheJay]

The problem is that I need to know now so that I can act quickly as I am using my bike as a means of getting myself to and from work at the moment.

A bike shop isn't open on a Sunday and in order to have someone from my LBS see to my bike, I would have to book an appointment and I have a pretty packed schedule so can't really find a slot where I could leave my bike with them.

 

[Dave_H]

But you've spent nearly four weeks already. How much longer do you want to spend on it?

The internet is great for getting information and all the information you need has been provided to you in this thread. The trouble is that it's no subsitute for real life people showing you how to resolve your real life problems and mistakes.

We've all been there on the sharp learning curve in the early days when tasks exceed knowledge and things go wrong, but you've got to be able to apply some thought to the information that's provided for you. If it's a step by step guide that your after then no matter how helpful people are, you'll struggle to get it online. Your LBS is the right place - that's how they make their money and stay in business.

It's great that you're trying to fix up bike and learn yourself - just recognise that you can't do everything from day one and seek professional help when you've completely stretched the boundaries of your knowledge. It goes for everything in life.

 

[TheJay]

I haven't literally spent four weeks working on it. It's been here and there, now is one point when I have a little more time.

 

[TheJay]

I just want to know what I need to buy in order to fix this looseness problem.

So I need:

star washers, spacers and...

 

[Dave_H]

Given that you've not got time to go to the bike shop, you'll need

One of these http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=11268
At least one pack of these http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=357
One of these if you want to fit it properly (not essential though) http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=10224
Allen keys
A hammer

and probably these Park guides
* Star Fangled Nut Installation
* Fork Column Length and Sizing
* Threadless Headset Service

It really isn't that complicated if you take the time to read the guides and work out what you're doing before you start.

 

[TheJay]

Given that you've not got time to go to the bike shop, you'll need

One of these http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=11268
At least one pack of these http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=357
One of these if you want to fit it properly (not essential though) http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=10224
Allen keys
A hammer

and probably these Park guides
* Star Fangled Nut Installation
* Fork Column Length and Sizing
* Threadless Headset Service

It really isn't that complicated if you take the time to read the guides and work out what you're doing before you start.

Brilliant stuff Dave_H!

Thank you so much!

 

[D_XZ]

I think it is, when I went into the LBS yesterday he just told me to tighten the screw in the headset cap to resolve the looseness.

and thats why you ruined the star nut. The stem needed to be loosened first so that tightening the top cap would push the stem down.

heres a link explaining it: (note - scroll down to the threadless section for yours)
http://www.webmountainbike.com/headset1.html

Also you can try one of these instead of of the star nut. Pricey but less hassle and no special tools needed.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Hope_ ... 300002474/

 

[TheJay]

I think it is, when I went into the LBS yesterday he just told me to tighten the screw in the headset cap to resolve the looseness.

and thats why you ruined the star nut. The stem needed to be loosened first so that tightening the top cap would push the stem down.

heres a link explaining it: (note - scroll down to the threadless section for yours)
http://www.webmountainbike.com/headset1.html

Also you can try one of these instead of of the star nut. Pricey but less hassle and no special tools needed.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Hope_ ... 300002474/

No, I'm pretty sure I did loosen the other two screws too, it just didn't seem to have an affect. Ah well, I ordered a replacement from Edinburgh Cycles so we shall see if that works out better.

The links you provided are useful, I will check out the first and had I not purchased a replacement, I would have gone for tha option.

Thank you for your input!

 

[TheJay]

Pickle, could you please tell me what you used in order for the fork to fit inside the headset without any movement?