loose steering tube connection assistance needed

[Lisa Frohmann]

I have a cruz quest. I have repeatedly had problems with a loose connection between the steering tube and the top part of the fork (the connection that is to the orange portion of the bike). I have tightened the ?pivot clamp and overthe fork steerertube with the clamping slot turned to the rear of the bike.
Tighten the dual quick release handles. The connection repeatedly comes loose and shakes and wobbles. The bike is difficult to steer and unsafe to ride. When I took the bike apart I noticed that the bolt at the top of the steering column (that holds the handle bars) si not long enough to connect the base of the steering column to the top of the fork? Could this be the problem?

Has anyone else had this problem? Any advice on how to fix it?

 

[Eric Winn]

Hi Lisa,
You may want to

Hi Lisa,

You may want to check out these two references:

http://cruzbike.com/headset-loose

http://cruzbike.com/mysteries-diatech-headset

Additionally I would emphasize using a hex wrench to further tighten the dual quick release clamp. I don't think you can really get this quite tight just by hand using the clamp levers.

It sounds like you just need to get the dual quick release clamp tight enough but I'm not entirely sure from your description.

-Eric

 

[jphipps]

Had same problem with Quest 3.0

Lisa,

I had same problem with my new bike. I posted how to fix but here is a procedure using a 3 foot long rod that has threads on it ( can purchase at local hardware store), some washers the size of the steerer tube, one washer the size of a grey tube that goes over the steerer tube.
This procedure will mimic what modern steerer tubes use to take the play out of the headset bearings( they use a long threaded rod and a star nut). See pictures below. The grey tube is part of a vacuum wand I found in my garage, it's 20 inches long and needs to go over the steerer tube extension and push on the dual quick release clamp.
First remove handelbars and stem.
Loosen dual clamp and headset clamp.
Put long threaded rod through steerer extension and steerer tube to where you can put on nuts and washers. (the rod will extend through the top of the front fork and the steerer tube extension).
With washers and nuts on both ends, screw the nuts down until all the slop is out of the bottom headset bearing and the steerer tube extension is firmly fixed on the steerer tube.
Put the grey tube over the steerer tube to push down on the dual clamp and headset clamp.
Now use the larger washer and nut to take all the play out of the headset clamp.
At this point you can tighten the dual clamp, be careful as the hex screws will strip out( cheap parts).
Now you can tighten the headset clamp( be sure to use plenty of blue thread locker).
I ended up using an additional hose clamp above the dual clamp to make sure it did not "rock back and forth" and thereby loosen the headset.

Goodluck,
John Phipps

 

[John Tolhurst]

If you like to tighten the

If you like to tighten the headset bearings with an alternative to the installed diacampe expansion unit, then you need to get a headset bearing for 28.6 steerer. It needs to have the star nut, or flower nut; and it must have the cap and tensioning bolt.

Now, make a long bolt using M6 threaded rod and an M6 sleeve nut.

This is how the original sofriders were shipped, works very well.

 

[Lisa Frohmann]

Tightening steering tube

Thank you for all the advice. I will let you know how it works.
Lisa