headset / fork movement

[hannos]

My bike has a little bit of play in the headset.
It seems to move a tiny bit inside the frame where the fork goes through. If I hold the frame I can wobble the forks inside the headset a bit.

Does that even make sense? (Not sure how to explain it)


I'm assuming I'm needing some new bearings for it?

[bychosis]

Might just neeed adjusting. If it is still turning smoothly adjustment is more likely.

[Mulger bill]

What he said. Sheldon or the choob for advice.

[hannos]

OK so I followed the advice in this video
This information corresponds with what is in Zinn & the art of road bike maintenance.

I still seem to have some play when I hold the brake and rock the bike forwarsd and back.

Any other suggestions???

do I pull the entire thing apart, clean and re-grease it??

[Nobody]

Take your top cap off and make sure the combination of stem and spacers is higher than the steerer tube by at least 3mm. If < 3mm you'll end up just tightening the top cap into the steerer (bottoming out) rather than pulling the steerer up while pushing the spacer stack & stem down toward the head tube. See from time 05:40 on video below.

http://www.5min.com/Video/How-to-Instal ... t-66769459

[hannos]

took the entire thing apart, re-greased and put it back together.

Tightened it all up and the movement was *almost* gone. Gave it a tiny bit more tightening and Presto! No more movement

and yes, there's heaps of space between the top spacer and the steerer tube

[gururug]

Sounds like something is a bit out of shape. Keep a close eye on it. Frequent re-tightening will extend it's life but potentially damage the head tube.