How critical is headset adjustment

So long as you don't have a significant amount of play there is no big
worry. If the headset is loose enough so that the fork moves when you
brake, then you should replace the headset. Part of the problem is that
it's hard to have your headset perfectly adjusted all the time. The
other issue is that it's hard to adust the headset on the road.

But as for newer compact and hidden headsets play probably is much more
critical.

PJay said:

After removing my forks and cleaning up my headset I refitted everything and
re-adjusted the headset. I took care to check for the removal of all play
and then just nudged things on a little to be sure. I tightened up the stem
bolts and double checked play. Just to be sure I took it along to the bike
shop to be checked and was given the ok.

On a ride today I popped into another bike shop for some grease and
mentioned a small ticking noise I'd noticed in the top headset cup. They had
a quick look and I was rather disappointed when they said that there was a
small amount of play in the top cup. They kindly adjusted it for me (about
1/4 turn above what I'd done) and said that there would have been no harm in
me riding the bike as I'd set it up, which was a bit of a both (they also
mentioned that since I'd recently grease the headset and then riden the
bike, about 7 miles, that it might have just been things settling in).

However I do feel a tad nervous about adjusting my headset again in case I
get it wrong, I certainly couldn't feel any play so I might be prone to
errors. I was wondering just how critical it is to adjust the headset spot
on, is there any margin for error (eg. no play that I can 'detect'😉 or will
I end up damaging something (I've heard about ovalised headtubes).

Just thought I'd ask.

PJay said:

After removing my forks and cleaning up my headset I refitted
everything and re-adjusted the headset. I took care to check for the
removal of all play and then just nudged things on a little to be
sure. I tightened up the stem bolts and double checked play. Just to
be sure I took it along to the bike shop to be checked and was given
the ok.
On a ride today I popped into another bike shop for some grease and
mentioned a small ticking noise I'd noticed in the top headset cup.
They had a quick look and I was rather disappointed when they said
that there was a small amount of play in the top cup. They kindly
adjusted it for me (about 1/4 turn above what I'd done) and said that
there would have been no harm in me riding the bike as I'd set it up,
which was a bit of a both (they also mentioned that since I'd
recently grease the headset and then riden the bike, about 7 miles,
that it might have just been things settling in).
However I do feel a tad nervous about adjusting my headset again in
case I get it wrong, I certainly couldn't feel any play so I might be
prone to errors. I was wondering just how critical it is to adjust
the headset spot on, is there any margin for error (eg. no play that
I can 'detect'😉 or will I end up damaging something (I've heard about
ovalised headtubes).
Just thought I'd ask.

Not a big deal. If you're doing downhill racing/freeride antics, ovalized
headtubes should be on your radar. If not, don't worry about it.

The fork should be able to flop over relatively easily if you lean the bike
over about 10 degrees while you have it picked up in the air.
--
Phil, Squid-in-Training

Most bikes have a few spacers between the headset and the stem. Tighten
down the stem (i.e. tighten the headset) until it takes a quite a bit of
effort to twist (rotate around the fork stearer) the spacers with your hand.
If you can't twist them, it's too tight. If they twist easily - too loose.
That seems to work for me. It's easy to check if your headset has come
loose, or tightened up by itself, this way too.

And no, I have no proof that this results in the correct tightness of the
headset, but on my bikes, using this method doesn't result in any play and
also hasn't destroyed the bearings over a couple of years of riding.

"PJay" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

After removing my forks and cleaning up my headset I refitted everything
and re-adjusted the headset. I took care to check for the removal of all
play and then just nudged things on a little to be sure. I tightened up
the stem bolts and double checked play. Just to be sure I took it along to
the bike shop to be checked and was given the ok.

On a ride today I popped into another bike shop for some grease and
mentioned a small ticking noise I'd noticed in the top headset cup. They
had a quick look and I was rather disappointed when they said that there
was a small amount of play in the top cup. They kindly adjusted it for me
(about 1/4 turn above what I'd done) and said that there would have been
no harm in me riding the bike as I'd set it up, which was a bit of a both
(they also mentioned that since I'd recently grease the headset and then
riden the bike, about 7 miles, that it might have just been things
settling in).

However I do feel a tad nervous about adjusting my headset again in case I
get it wrong, I certainly couldn't feel any play so I might be prone to
errors. I was wondering just how critical it is to adjust the headset spot
on, is there any margin for error (eg. no play that I can 'detect'😉 or
will I end up damaging something (I've heard about ovalised headtubes).

Just thought I'd ask.

Thanks,

I'm probably worrying overly and I'm sure that there is margin for error, I
was just alarmed that I thought I'd got it right and someone else found some
slack (could have bedded in though). I worry about damaging the head tube
and ruining the frame. With that said though I did remove all the play that
I could detect and rode the bike hard without feeling and juddering or
hearing any knocking, in this situation would I be safe even if there was a
small amount of play there?

Don't know why headsets phase me, I'm quite happy doing bottom brackets.

"PJay" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

After removing my forks and cleaning up my headset I refitted everything
and re-adjusted the headset. I took care to check for the removal of all
play and then just nudged things on a little to be sure. I tightened up
the stem bolts and double checked play. Just to be sure I took it along to
the bike shop to be checked and was given the ok.

On a ride today I popped into another bike shop for some grease and
mentioned a small ticking noise I'd noticed in the top headset cup. They
had a quick look and I was rather disappointed when they said that there
was a small amount of play in the top cup. They kindly adjusted it for me
(about 1/4 turn above what I'd done) and said that there would have been
no harm in me riding the bike as I'd set it up, which was a bit of a both
(they also mentioned that since I'd recently grease the headset and then
riden the bike, about 7 miles, that it might have just been things
settling in).

However I do feel a tad nervous about adjusting my headset again in case I
get it wrong, I certainly couldn't feel any play so I might be prone to
errors. I was wondering just how critical it is to adjust the headset spot
on, is there any margin for error (eg. no play that I can 'detect'😉 or
will I end up damaging something (I've heard about ovalised headtubes).

Just thought I'd ask.

"PJay" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Thanks,

I'm probably worrying overly and I'm sure that there is margin for error,

I

Quoted message said:

was just alarmed that I thought I'd got it right and someone else found

some

Quoted message said:

slack (could have bedded in though). I worry about damaging the head tube
and ruining the frame. With that said though I did remove all the play

that

Quoted message said:

I could detect and rode the bike hard without feeling and juddering or
hearing any knocking, in this situation would I be safe even if there was

a

Quoted message said:

small amount of play there?

Don't know why headsets phase me, I'm quite happy doing bottom brackets.

Sure there is some margin for error. Nothing is perfect. A headset with no
play at all is too tight and that is worse. If you don't feel any play or
juddering or hearing any knocking you're OK.

Lou

PJay said:

Thanks,

I'm probably worrying overly and I'm sure that there is margin for
error, I was just alarmed that I thought I'd got it right and someone
else found some slack (could have bedded in though). I worry about
damaging the head tube and ruining the frame. With that said though I
did remove all the play that I could detect and rode the bike hard
without feeling and juddering or hearing any knocking, in this
situation would I be safe even if there was a small amount of play
there?

Repeat after me: "Tiny play is fine." "Tiny play is fine." "Tiny play is
fine."

Another trick: Adjust headset then ride no-hands. If there's any change in
riding difficulty, it's too tight.

--
Phil, Squid-in-Training

On Thu, 4 May 2006 14:44:51 +0100, "PJay" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

I'm probably worrying overly and I'm sure that there is margin for error, I
was just alarmed that I thought I'd got it right and someone else found some
slack (could have bedded in though). I worry about damaging the head tube
and ruining the frame.

Almost impossible to damage the frame. If the headset is misadjusted,
you're more likely to wear it out quickly though.

Quoted message said:

With that said though I did remove all the play that
I could detect and rode the bike hard without feeling and juddering or
hearing any knocking, in this situation would I be safe even if there was a
small amount of play there?

Sounds good.

JT

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