My bike has a threadless headset, and it's always had a bit of play in the fork/headset connection. Unloaded (ie. when I'm not on it) there's enough wiggle in there that the bottom of the front wheel can move back and forth about half or 3/4 a cm.
Is this something a LBS can fix? If so, is my description good enough, or are there better words I should be using?
Posted Aug 7, 2011, 2:27 PM UTC
I am assuming that the headset was tightened in the incorrect order. You can fix it yourself in about 3 minutes if you have some hex keys.
1: loosen the 2 bolts that hold the stem onto the fork, so that you can rotate it without moving the fork.
2: align the stem/handlebars straight with the front wheel.
3: Tighten the bolt that comes out at the top of the fork. This is what removes the play, but the stem bolts have to be loose for the top bolt to do it's job.
4: Now, re-tighten the bolts that hold the stem onto the fork, and the play should be gone.
Basically, if the stem bolts were tightened before the top bolt, there is a lot of potential for play. If this does not work, perhaps it would be best to go to the LBS.
That was exactly the problem! Thanks!
This is what I think will fix the problem:
This will basically force the steerer tube to go straight through the headset, and should get rid of the wobbling. If it doesn't, then you've got a more serious/complicated issue most likely.
This assumes that the headset hasn't been borked by riding it so loose. Doing this can definitely kill a threaded headset and fork.
But he said it's threadless...
Regardless, obviously there's a chance it's broken, but likely not.
Oh wow, that was exactly the problem. It's totally solid now. Thanks!
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