[Search for users] [Overall Top Noters] [List of all Conferences] [Download this site]

Conference noted::bicycle

Title: Bicycling
Notice:Bicycling for Fun
Moderator:JAMIN::WASSER
Created:Mon Apr 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:3214
Total number of notes:31946

1246.0. "INDEXED HEADSET?" by WMOIS::C_GIROUARD () Thu Jul 13 1989 10:29

    Anyone dealing with this one or am I living with inherent design?
    
    INDEXED HEADSET! My handle bars "slot" themselves slightly, but
    in a perfectly straight position. I have a Campy Chorus headset.
    My two Fujis did not do this, but Shimano headsets have been known
    to do this (Fuji's outfitted with SunTour).
    
    Do I have a problem? Turning is very smooth and the propensity for
    it to settle in a straight direction is very slight (non-interfering).
    I can almost describe it as it settels in straight as a little "bump".
    
    Chip
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
1246.1or... move to Kansas?SHALOT::ELLISJohn Lee Ellis - assembly requiredThu Jul 13 1989 12:3714
    Chip,
    
    This is a relatively well documented (also in this notes conference)
    problem, or phenomenon.  The first little "index detent" does tend
    to seat itself in the straight-forward position, from my experience
    at least.  People have found Campy headsets to be especially prone 
    to this.  Ed Fisher has with his C Record.  I did with my Super Record.
    
    That being so, 'til it really causes aggravation or a safety problem
    (which it can!) I say live with it.  If you have a small frame size,
    people advise pin-bearing headsets such as the Stronglight.  The
    smaller the frame, the more shock to the headset.
    
    -john
1246.2What I was toldCIMAMT::CHINNASWAMYThe Mindless CannibalThu Jul 13 1989 12:479
Do you ride your bike on a wind trainer that connects to the front
fork? I was told that constant use on a wind trainer can cause this
to happen. I guess it happens from wiggling the handlebars slightly
during use which will form a groove in the headset. I beleive it
can also be caused by an overly tight bearing adjustment. Just
what I heard from the bike shop.

Mano

1246.3MEMORY::GOODWINin a spasm of lucidity...Thu Jul 13 1989 14:339
    This can also be caused by the way the bikes are shipped from the
    factory. the headsets are torqued down so that the fork will not turn
    which creates little dents in the bearing races. A couple of weeks ago
    I was in a bike shop when the mechanic opened up a new fuji. Not only
    did the headset feel like it had indexed steering but when he opened it
    up there was no grease in the bearings and a bearing was missing from
    the ring.
    
    Paul
1246.4try some preventive steps:TOOK::R_WOODBURYwhy silver bullets!?!? ...Fri Jul 14 1989 20:599
    Before it gets worse, take it apart. Remove both races from the
    frame, and rotating them a little, say 45 to 90 degrees. Put them back
    in carefully with either a special tool if you have it or by tapping
    them  with a soft metal bar (brass, etc.) and hammer or mallet,
    alternating sides. Clean out the old grease, repack it, make sure it's
    adjusted perfectly. Check it again every 50 miles for the next 200
    miles.
    
    Good luck!
1246.5THANKSWMOIS::C_GIROUARDMon Jul 17 1989 12:274
     Thanks for the help. I adjusted the headset, backed of the tightness
    just a tad and all is well.
    
      Chip
1246.6This happened once.NOVA::FISHERRdb/VMS DinosaurTue Jul 18 1989 15:599
    There is another way to get an indexed headset, I had this happen once.
    The bike had been unused for about a year and I discovered that the
    headset was severely indexed.  Upon disassembly we discovered that the
    grease had dried so that there were precise positions for the bearings.
    After cleaning it and replacing the grease it was fine.
    
    Of course, I don't think that would ever happen to anyone else.
    
    ed
1246.7round robin?SHALOT::ELLISJohn Lee Ellis - assembly requiredWed Jul 19 1989 07:247
    RE: .-1 (grease congealing in headset)
    
    ... in your case not for lack of riding!  just because of your
    ever-growing bike collection... guess it's hard to get around to
    riding them all.  :-)
    
    -john