Loose Headset Road Bike

The headset is the bearing assembly that fits to a bike s head tube and allows the fork and front wheel to turn.

Loose headset road bike. Also if i apply the front brake and rock the bike back and fore there s play from the headset. While it s possible to swiftly tighten a loose headset a closer inspection is required to discover the underlying cause. 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. If i tighten down the top cap with 6mm hex i can get rid of the wobble hands on the drops holding brakes headset has a fair bit of play but i cannot move the wheels freely with the handlebars.

The current headset is a xlc a51an. 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. If you regularly ride in wet weather cleaning and regreasing your headset is a maintenance job that you ll. I guess it s an external headset but not really sure.

The frame is an intec m1 see document page 6. I own a cannondale super six 105 ultegra now carbon 2012 bike and i can t stop the wobble in the headset. If your threadless bike headset has more chatter than a sunday afternoon church social it s probably loose. It can affect braking and steering and make the bike less safe.

I tried too and yeah let s face it that headset is probably bad or badly installed. If you have a bike bought in the last 10 years or so your headset should be this type. If you hear or feel a knock or rattle or clunk stop and try to re create it. Luckily tightening a headset is an easy job.

It has a 1 1 8 fork tube. When it s working as it should you probably won t notice your headset too much but you will become conscious of it if it needs regreasing or starts to wear out because your steering will begin to suffer. Jon places the bike in the work stand and removes the front wheel. A rattling headset will make your steering sloppy and if you don t fix the problem.

4 5 and 6mm would be a good place. As is the bike is pretty much unrideable since the fork would wobble every time i brake. If the underside of the topcap touches the top of the steerer all the bolt does it tighten them together and the headset will stay loose. It might not be the sexiest component in the world but it does a vital job.