rattle from my headset

Hmmm. Did it come suddenly loose within the space of a ride or two? If so, you may want to check for damage to the fork steer tube. A shop can quickly help you with that. Otherwise, the Park Tool website has excellent instructions on how to adjust your headset. All you will need are a couple of hex wrenches. Most shops will also help you adjust your headset while you wait. It's quick and fairly simple.

John Swanson
www.bikephysics.com

astroluc said:

okay, I was out on my ride earlier today and I started to notice a rattle coming from my bike... I stopped, checked the bottle cages (famous for coming loose after a time) and determined it must've been slack from the cables against the frame; my route today was a bit bumpy! so... long story short, it wasn't that. When I got home I had the idea to check the neck and headset... there it is! My whole front wheel/fork/handlebars move in the neck of the frame, causing rattleing when I hit rough terrain (uneaven pavement, etc...)

so, I'm a bit of a noob when it comes to bike mechanics, but I am competent with tools and mechanicly inclined... what should I do to remedy this situation? is it something as simple as a loose something or another? or WORSE!?

and, fyi... its an 00 Cannondale R1000

Thank you in advance!

ScienceIsCool said:

Hmmm. Did it come suddenly loose within the space of a ride or two?

John Swanson
www.bikephysics.com

yes... actually... I will check parktools website, but in the meantime (again, bike mechanic noob) is that a bad/difficult thing to fix/remedy?!

Thank you for your input

this bike

that's it! I just dissected the headset and there is a bearing missing; which leads me to my next question... HOW in hell does a bearing go missing?

and FYI it's a Cane Creek C-2 threadless headset... any info greatly appreciated

astroluc said:

that's it! I just dissected the headset and there is a bearing missing; which leads me to my next question... HOW in hell does a bearing go missing?

They break and the pieces fall out.

DMF said:

They break and the pieces fall out.

oh look... a comedian; but seriously... it doesn't 'look' broken.

I took it apart, repacked the bearings with grease, re-assembled it, and it is still 'loose'.

Funny? You're the one that said there's a bearing missing. Where the hell do you think it went? Did aliens teleport it away? 🙄

If all the bits are there now and it's still loose, it needs to be retensioned. Check the Park Tools web site or your LBS for how.

astroluc said:

that's it! I just dissected the headset and there is a bearing missing; which leads me to my next question... HOW in hell does a bearing go missing?

and FYI it's a Cane Creek C-2 threadless headset... any info greatly appreciated

Replace it with a Chris King and be done with it.

http://www.chrisking.com/news/VN2006BuyersGuide.pdf