My Cannondale came equipped with a Cane Creek C1 Headset. Recently I opened it up, lubed all the bearings and put it back together. It's real smooth now, but the headset no longer has that little "centering" action going.
When the handlebars were dead center, the headset had a little bit of a notch or something to hold it in the center position. This made for nice tight steering. Now the thing swings freely in all directions and the center is gone.
Is this something that's in the alignment of the bearings that creates this? Is there anything I can do to get that back? It's not crucial to riding, but it does make loading and unloading the bike a lot easier.
"bomgod" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
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My Cannondale came equipped with a Cane Creek C1 Headset. Recently I opened it up, lubed all the bearings and put it back together. It's real smooth now, but the headset no longer has that little "centering" action going.
Generally, that centering action is a bad thing. We usually try to get rid of it when overhauling by moving the cups and balls around. It's caused by normal wear and tear, lack of lubrication etc. It's something of a blessing that you no longer have it. Ride for a while longer and it will eventually return!
"bomgod" <[email hidden]> schreef in bericht "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
My Cannondale came equipped with a Cane Creek C1 Headset. Recently I opened it up, lubed all the bearings and put it back together. It's real smooth now, but the headset no longer has that little "centering" action going.
When the handlebars were dead center, the headset had a little bit of a notch or something to hold it in the center position. This made for nice tight steering. Now the thing swings freely in all directions and the center is gone.
Is this something that's in the alignment of the bearings that creates this? Is there anything I can do to get that back? It's not crucial to riding, but it does make loading and unloading the bike a lot easier.
In my opinion you got to be happy that you miss the centerspot now. It is a damage because of some bumb which give a hole in the bearingshell. You possibly adjusted it now a bit different.
Headsets are NOT supposed to be "indexed". If it stopped at certain spots, then your race(s) have become brinnelled<Sp?>. IOW, the bearings have pounded small dents in the race face.
This is particularly noticeable with caged bearings, which is why I always remove the cages from the bottom bearing at least whenever I get a new headset and replace it with loose bearings.
If it's turning smoothly now, then it may not have gotten too bad. As long as their is no bind in your steering action, it's fine.
"May you have the wind at your back. And a really low gear for the hills!"
Chris Zacho ~ "Your Friendly Neighborhood Wheelman"
