How To Tighten Mountain Bike Headset
It is intended for a straight fork not a tapered fork.
How to tighten mountain bike headset. It can affect braking and steering and make the bike less safe. Depending on your bike the tools that you ll need for this job will vary but it s always good to have a torque wrench and a selection of allen keys to hand. The easiest way to find a loose headset is to pay attention when you re moving your bike around like rolling it up over a lip in the pavement or curb to park at a coffee shop etc. This headset is for frame with an external cup design headtube with approximately 33 8 33 9mm id.
A headset that s too tight will hold the bike s steering in place or slow it down as it flops back and forth. Any headset with the same shis would fit the bike as would headset in example 2. Tighten the top cap. Carbon fiber frames should only run top quality headsets such as those produced by chris king.
Whats needed is a higher another spacer so that the top of the steerer is 3mm below the underside of the topcap so the bolt actually does preload the headset bearings when you tighten it. 4 5 and 6mm would be a good place. Yup thats how it looks to me too. If there is any movement between the bike and the spacers the headset bolt isn t tight enough so try again and again.
Headsets are the bearings and cups that allow you to steer your bike. Again check the adjustment of the headset turn the handlebars back and forth then grab the brakes and rock then turn the handlebars at a 90 degree angle and rock as previously described. If you hear or feel a knock or rattle or clunk stop and try to re create it. Place your hand over the fork crown and lower headset cup to feel for any slop from a.
Loose headset interface will lead to premature wear on frame and fork assembly. This will most likely tighten the race a little despite any washers that may be between the two which means the headset will tighten a little bit. The steering column is 28 6mm and a crown race of 30mm. A loose headset can make the whole bike feel a bit wobbly and unstable.
Lowering the starnut wont make a jot of difference if this is indeed the issue.