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Technical & Reference Section => Tech and Restoration => Topic started by: ducati ste on January 16, 2009, 09:31 PM

Title: loose headset, New type
Post by: ducati ste on January 16, 2009, 09:31 PM: Basically the headset on my lads p.k.ripper keeps coming loose. It's the new type one with compression bolt in the fork steerer tube. I have to tighten it up every couple of days :(, when i do tighten it, it has no movement at all and the bolt is well tight but does work loose. Have put some thread lock on the compression bolt for now to see if that will help, thought it may be working loose with him doing jumps and stuff.
Any thoughts.
Title: Re: loose headset, New type
Post by: TwoBobRob on January 16, 2009, 09:37 PM: When you say new style, I assume the handlebar stem is clamped on with one or two allen bolts?

You need to loosen them, give the centre bolt a tweak, then do the allen bolts back up. It's the allen bolts that do all the work, the centre bolt does nowt other than help you tension the headset.

Any help?
Title: Re: loose headset, New type
Post by: HEYWOOD BMX on January 18, 2009, 11:53 AM: :) Have had the same problem on the same stem.Seems that the threads are badly drilled.Mine have been drilled at an angle.I used a bit of threadlock,works ok so far...
Title: Re: loose headset, New type
Post by: harris on January 18, 2009, 12:03 PM: i had a lad around the other day doing the same thing
he was tightening in the wrong order plus he had the top bearings in upside down
so he was just crushing them every time a small ride and a gap appeared.
compresion top bolt first then nip up the stem side bolts.
Title: Re: loose headset, New type
Post by: ducati ste on January 18, 2009, 08:08 PM: Got the right order for tightening. Hopefully the threadlock will work, if not then i will put a new headset on. 8)
Title: Re: loose headset, New type
Post by: TwoBobRob on January 19, 2009, 08:11 PM: ??? what are you threadlocking, and how would a new headset help? Surely there are no threads on the headset. Or am I being blonde again....... :-[
Title: Re: loose headset, New type
Post by: thecrooch on January 19, 2009, 08:26 PM: Maybe a stupid question but have you checked the star fangled nut inside the forks isnt on the piss or has moved?
Title: Re: loose headset, New type
Post by: HARORIDER on January 19, 2009, 10:23 PM: does the top of stem not need to be at least 5mm above the top of steerer tube? spacer + or -?
Title: Re: loose headset, New type
Post by: TwoBobRob on January 19, 2009, 10:26 PM: Just a thought - if you had a ballrace in upside down then it would tension up ok, then get looser as the race crushed down....