Play in headset
- Thread starter HeyHealy
- Start date
RojoRacing
Donut Powered Wise-guy
Sounds like the knurled nut assembly that sits down inside the carbon steerer tube may be set too high. This will cause the stem cap bolt to bottom out and seem tight before the steering assembly is pulled together tightly.
That's my bet based on what you've said.
That's my bet based on what you've said.
That whole assemble was a pain, when I recently needed to thread new brake lines through. When at an earlier occasion I tightened the headset, I pulled it all up and jammed the screw a bit, because I kept rotating and there was no other point, where it really grabbed hard.
In another bike, when I had no star nur installed, I used a tension strap with ratchet from the outside. That would work well on the Cruzebike boom. A pringle shape that goes over the front of the boom, under the left of the fork, over the rear of the boom, under the right of the fork. (Open clamp, tighten strap, tighten clamp, remove strap) But I can't promise, you won't damage something. If you wanna be save, understand the original mechanism, insert it far enough and dont pull it out again, trying to tighten it. The trick for me was pretightening it enough, so it won't slip too bad but not so much I couldn't insert it again…
In another bike, when I had no star nur installed, I used a tension strap with ratchet from the outside. That would work well on the Cruzebike boom. A pringle shape that goes over the front of the boom, under the left of the fork, over the rear of the boom, under the right of the fork. (Open clamp, tighten strap, tighten clamp, remove strap) But I can't promise, you won't damage something. If you wanna be save, understand the original mechanism, insert it far enough and dont pull it out again, trying to tighten it. The trick for me was pretightening it enough, so it won't slip too bad but not so much I couldn't insert it again…
Mathew Fy
GRU
Ditto. It happened to me also. I think the bearings seemed to be perfectly set originally, but either worn in or seated better, causing some play, noticeable when holding the brake while moving the bike front & back.
I had to loosen the bolts and slide the knurled nut assembly down some and then retighten.
Start about 16:30 here:
HeyHealy
Active Member
Thanks for the video. I bought the assembled version, so I didn't put together the steering assembly. It sounds like I need to remove the boom and stem cap, push the knurled nut assembly down a little bit, and then reassemble?
RojoRacing
Donut Powered Wise-guy
Yes you would need to remove the stem cap which looks more like a cup on this bike, then loosen the expansion nut, slid it down 10mm, and retighten the nut to its torque spec. Once that's down you just put it all back together.
The expansion nut has a knurled OD to grip the instead of the carbon tube. It possible it wasn't tight enough from the factory and worked its way up as you rode. Other option as you said is the bearing seated in a bit further.
The expansion nut has a knurled OD to grip the instead of the carbon tube. It possible it wasn't tight enough from the factory and worked its way up as you rode. Other option as you said is the bearing seated in a bit further.
HeyHealy
Active Member
I don't have a bike stand or good space for working on bikes, so I sent the video and instructions to a local bike mechanic.
He was able to tighten everything so there's no more play in the headset.
I asked him how difficult it was, and he said it took 4 hands to get the job done. So I'm glad I didn't attempt it on my own!
Anyway, all that to say, thanks to everyone for the advice, particularly Matthew Fy and RojoRacing.
He was able to tighten everything so there's no more play in the headset.
I asked him how difficult it was, and he said it took 4 hands to get the job done. So I'm glad I didn't attempt it on my own!
Anyway, all that to say, thanks to everyone for the advice, particularly Matthew Fy and RojoRacing.
