Scraping sound when moving handlebars

paulmcl

Hi guys, hopefully someone can help with this. Got back from a cycle yesterday and only noticed this then. Basically when I turn the handlebars (left or right), there is a strange slight scraping sound, as if maybe something is wrong inside the headtube. I don't know what's wrong and it's worrying, has anyone experienced this or have ideas as to what it might be. Also, this is possibly important; the front wheel was taken off and put on again a few times yesterday moving it in and out of cars.

Thanks in advance

easygoing39

Sounds like the headset bearings are running dry.

paulmcl

Okay, sorry for the ignorance, but what should I do to fix this, or even to check if this is the case? I feel I should point out that the bike is less than six months old with maybe 2000 Km cycled, so maybe a knock from putting it into a car/van is more likely, as it was a tight enough squeeze? Again, I have no idea, if you could give me some instructions as to how to check for a few possibilities, I would really appreciate it.
Thanks

High Rouleur

Sounds like the headset bearings need to be replaced. I had the same issue after about 3k. Started with slight stiffness but got progressively worse quite quickly (grinding sound) Bike shop reckoned water had seeped in to the headset or that the bearings were insufficiently greased on assembly. Taking on or off the front wheel would not be an issue. Best bet is to bring in to LBS

goose06

Buy some grease and youtube cleaning your headset

HivemindXX

You don't mention what sort of bike so this probably won't apply but it could easily be your mudguard. If you have mudguards have a look and/or take it off completely to see if the noise goes away.

Also unlikely but check your cables haven't been knocked around and are rubbing when you turn the bars. Turn the bars and check the cable path to see if they are rubbing against something then use your fingers to hold them away from that point and see if the noise goes away.

From my point of view I'd want to make absolutely sure it wasn't something simple before I took my headset apart.

paulmcl

Hi guys, it wasn't the cables rubbing, I did try that first. I took apart the headset and cleaned a lot of dirt from the bearing closest to the bottom of the fork. I don't have the same level of scraping but I'm not sure that it's completely fixed. I will prob take it to the nearest bike shop when I can.

check_six

Had problem similar to yours with the ball bearing race nearest the forks. When headset was opened lots of ball bearings went plinking onto the floor. The race had disintegrated and there was chunks of it falling out with the bearings.

Luckily the ball bearing race is very cheap to replace (at least it was on my MTB, maybe less than €2). It's a lot easier to put back together when the bearings are in the race too!