Tight headset?

In article said:

I've got a Specialized Hardrock whose headset I replaced a few months back, and I haven't ridden
it much since. It's got a threadless FSA job (Orbit II?) with sealed bearings on each end. I've
got it tightened enough to keep it from being loose (haha), you know, to keep it from rattling
when you hold the front brake and jiggle the bars back and forth. However, whenever I turn it past
about 35 degrees to either side, it tightens up. Why would this be? Anything I can do? I don't
really notice it when riding, but the handling isn't perfect.

Did you have the head tube prepped (reamed and faced) when you had the new headset installed?
Chances are the races are slightly crooked; prepping the head tube helps them seat properly in
alignment.

--

-John ([email hidden])

Could be your head tube is not faced properly and the cups are out of alignment. You can have this
fixed by a shop with a facing tool, or, if you can live with it and it doesn't destroy your headset
too quickly, just leave
it. You probably won't be turning past 35 degrees much and will probably hardly notice while
riding. Facing the head tube will probably be a $30-$50 job when all is said and done and they
do all the work. Probably $10-$20 if you bring them the frame with the headset already removed.

Cheers,

Scott..
--
Scott Anderson

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

Quoted message said:

I've got a Specialized Hardrock whose headset I replaced a few months back, and I haven't ridden
it much since. It's got a threadless FSA job (Orbit II?) with sealed bearings on each end. I've
got it tightened enough to keep it from being loose (haha), you know, to keep it from rattling
when you hold the front brake and jiggle the bars back and forth. However, whenever I turn it past
about 35 degrees to either side, it tightens up. Why would this be? Anything I can do? I don't
really notice it when riding, but the handling isn't perfect. Thanks! Matt

John Thompson <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

In article said:

I've got a Specialized Hardrock whose headset I replaced a few months back, and I haven't ridden
it much since. It's got a threadless FSA job (Orbit II?) with sealed bearings on each end. I've
got it tightened enough to keep it from being loose (haha), you know, to keep it from rattling
when you hold the front brake and jiggle the bars back and forth. However, whenever I turn it
past about 35 degrees to either side, it tightens up. Why would this be? Anything I can do? I
don't really notice it when riding, but the handling isn't perfect.

Did you have the head tube prepped (reamed and faced) when you had the new headset installed?
Chances are the races are slightly crooked; prepping the head tube helps them seat properly in
alignment.

I honestly don't know whether they faced the head tube. I took it in and picked it up a day later, I
think... I don't recall it costing much - they just charged me for "headset installation," which may
not have included facing. However, when I brought in a BB to be installed on another bike, they did
face it (the instructions said to). Don't know - maybe I'll take it in and see how much it would be.
I don't have the tools for taking it out, so that would be up to them... Matt