22
votes
Accepted
Should amateurs install their own headsets?
The headset is a straightforward unit. Two cups are pushed into the frame with an interference fit and the crown race is smacked onto the top of the fork in a similar way.
In the past, when I have had ...
- 13.6k
15
votes
Used WD-40 on headset and now it loosens daily
Using WD40 on a headset should not cause it to loosen. Something else is wrong. You need to find out what that is.
First - don't ride the bicycle until the problem is identified and fixed. Doing ...
- 10.6k
13
votes
Accepted
Why isn't my quill stem controlling the front wheel of my bike?
Completely remove the bicycle quill
Hang the bike up-side down
Take out the wedge. If the wedge is stuck, try inserting the quill bolt alone (no quill, just bolt). Take care not to push the wedge ...
- 3,501
12
votes
Broken stem tube – LBS "just" lowered handlebars. Is this safe?
Here's how I would fix the problem. This could all be done by somebody with basic tools and basic knowledge.
Get a quill-threadless stem adapter and a new stem. This will allow you to fit the new ...
- 21.7k
12
votes
Accepted
Got a new frameset, don't know why I need this split ring collar?
That looks like the compression ring for a threadless headset.
Images by keithonearth on Wikimedia Commons, reproduced under Gnu free documentation license
More information found at Sheldon Brown
- 20.7k
12
votes
My bike's adjustable stem keeps falling down
What you have is an adjustable stem. The headset is the pair of bearings in the head tube that the fork steerer tube runs in, that allows the handlebars and fork to turn.
You are tightening the ...
- 75.5k
11
votes
Accepted
Is lithium grease suitable for lubricating the steel headset cups when pressing them into the aluminium frame?
Yes, totally suitable. Of all the remotely common grease types, there's not really a scenario on bikes where the type matters for this application unless it's a titanium or stainless frame, and then ...
- 81.9k
10
votes
Broken stem tube – LBS "just" lowered handlebars. Is this safe?
What you have now is a bit of a hack, but it could be good temporarily so long as you don't over-stress things somehow, and if you can tolerate the lower handlebar. (Note, I haven't seen how your ...
- 53.4k
9
votes
Got a new frameset, don't know why I need this split ring collar?
It is indeed a compression ring, David D’s diagram is helpful to illustrate the following:
What it does is transfer the force of the cap bolt to the inner face of the cartridge bearing. That then ...
- 12.7k
9
votes
Accepted
My bike's adjustable stem keeps falling down
There are quite a few adjustable stems where you would NOT tighten the correct bolt.
Also tightening this bold too hard can lead to a catastrophic failure of the stem.
For quite a few of those ...
- 206
9
votes
Accepted
Can't remove fork from head tube!
The grey part is a wedge and has a split in it. You could use a metal pick to pry it out at the split. If you deform it in your attempt, file or sand off any burrs before you reuse it.
If you hit the ...
- 13.6k
9
votes
Accepted
Is stem cap redundant after tightening stem bolts?
Yes this is correct. Once the stem bolts are tight, they hold the system together. The top cap can be loosened without releasing the preload. You could try it out and you should find that the stem ...
- 12.7k
9
votes
Accepted
Road bike headset: the spacer above the stem can rotate but not the ones below, is it wrong?
When the stem is clamped in place, it's enough to keep the headset in place.
The top cap is used only for adjusting headset bearing preload and keeping water and dirt out of steerer tube, so in ...
- 21.8k
8
votes
Is my carbon fork steerer tube damaged by overtightened stem bolts
In practical terms, it's impossible to tell for sure in a case like this. It's probably fine, but there's no way of knowing absolutely via visual inspection.
The surface indentations from the stem ...
- 81.9k
8
votes
Accepted
Amount of spacers below the stem for steel 1 inch steel steerer
Common threadless steel steerers have essentially no practical limit for this in either 1" or 1-1/8". There of course is a theoretical limit, but it's going to be a very large number, way over 12"/...
- 81.9k
8
votes
How can I remove very stuck headset spacers (alu/carbon)
I went ahead with the rotary tool (Dremel) and general cutting disc. I cut two grooves side by side in the top spacer and prized one of them open with a flat screwdriver. Once the aluminium is thin ...
- 12.7k
8
votes
Is stem cap redundant after tightening stem bolts?
As noted, the cap is theoretically not needed to hold the stem in place, but in the rare situation you need a stem adjustment on the road/trail you'd have a hard time of it. I've removed a spacer ...
- 81
8
votes
Should amateurs install their own headsets?
I'd once bought a naked new Italian steel frame that I intended to build up myself. There were three things that I had done by the shop that sold me the frame. That was mainly because I didn't want to ...
- 8,269
7
votes
Accepted
Cannondale CAAD12 headset proprietary or replaceable?
The CAAD 12 uses sealed cartridge bearings which are replaceable and not proprietary.
You shouldn't need many special tools to service the headset bearings, especially if they are new - you should be ...
- 5,498
7
votes
Accepted
Freezing headset cups to ease installation - does this actually work?
According to this link the thermal expansion of aluminum 6061 is 13 micro inches/(inch x °F). A headset has a diameter of 1.125 inches, and circumference of 3.5325 inches. Assuming you change the ...
- 21.7k
7
votes
Accepted
Frequent fork swapping, best practice?
I have done such a thing for many years with a rigid carbon fork for winter and a suspension fork for summer. At the beginning I simply called the headset manufacturer and ordered another crown race ...
- 9,938
7
votes
Accepted
My fork stem is rusted - should I replace the forks?
The corrosion can be removed from the steerer with no problems.
If the corrosion was bad and extended into where the top headset bearing sits, there might be a problem as the steerer would not fit ...
- 75.5k
7
votes
Accepted
Unobtainium headset size?
The product you are looking for is called "headtube adaptor" or "headset reducer". Once you know the name, you should be able to find them online.
If the headset is in good shape, there should be no ...
- 21.8k
7
votes
Is this a crown race?
Yes, the piece in the lower left is the crown race. Split types (with the slit) should gently pinch onto the crown race seat of the fork. What's important with that type is that there's zero play (...
- 81.9k
7
votes
Accepted
Headset labeling - Does this qualify as EC30?
30.03mm is a measurement one might expect to get off the OD of a 1" JIS cup (called EC29 in SHIS, from the 29.8mm frame bore). That's consistent with the "22.2/30.0/26.4" on the label.
However, 26.4 ...
- 81.9k
7
votes
Accepted
What is this headset's name per the Standardized Headset Identification System
Yes ZS56/40 - Zero stack with 56 mm bore diameter and 40 mm fork crown race.
It is zero stack because it is a black cup containing the silver bearing, but the bearing ends up inside the frame tube (i....
- 12.7k
7
votes
Is lithium grease suitable for lubricating the steel headset cups when pressing them into the aluminium frame?
Grease will do much more to protect it than nothing, with many mechanics preferring marine-grade grease if near the ocean or salted roads. Optimally, you should use an anti-seize compound. In ...
- 519
7
votes
Accepted
Which way to use a crown race removal tool?
Here is a picture of instructions for a tool similar to yours.
This picture shows putting a screwdriver in the holes to drive out the crown race.
Since yours are threaded I'd put a bolt in each hole ...
- 20.7k
7
votes
Accepted
Stiff/binding headset
There is almost a certainty that debris has been carried into your headset and bearings due to being exposed to the elements. It's also quite possible that there is corrosion.
The obvious fix is to ...
- 978
7
votes
Should amateurs install their own headsets?
If carried out carelessly, even changing a chain can cause bad damage to the frame.
Consider headset installation against other commonly carried mechanical tasks on a bicycle. Why does nobody (usually)...
- 14.4k
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