Loose headset

monty_python

I just dropped my road bike down to my local bike shop for new tires and he pointed out the headset was loose, very loose. Kind of embarrassed I didn't notice it myself

What could cause it to become loose and is it just a matter of tightening it?? Could it be damaged and be costly to repair??

cletus

monty_python wrote: »

I just dropped my road bike down to my local bike shop for new tires and he pointed out the headset was loose, very loose. Kind of embarrassed I didn't notice it myself

What could cause it to become loose and is it just a matter of tightening it?? Could it be damaged and be costly to repair??

General use, especially if you're going over rough ground could cause play. It should be a simple matter to tighten it up.

Regarding damage, the only likely damage is to the bearings, which are usually cheap and easy to replace

con747

Could have just worked it's way loose over time, or the bearings might be worn. Pull the front brake and move the bike forward and back and you will see how much movement is in it, and listen when turning it if you can hear grinding. Check if the Lock nut is loose. It's not a big job to replace the bearings if your anyway handy.

monty_python

Thanks lads. Doesn't sound to bad

Bike is still in the shop getting new tires. Hopefully he will just tighten it and won't charge me

monty_python

Picked up the bike. Owner of the shop says the bearings are damaged and I need a new headset. 80euro for parts plus labour.

con747

monty_python wrote: »

Picked up the bike. Owner of the shop says the bearings are damaged and I need a new headset. 80euro for parts plus labour.

Prices have gone up since I last fixed bikes! It's an easy job if you have the tools. I would still check if you can hear or feel a grinding or rough feel when turning the handlebars when stationary. Or just unscrew the nuts on top to see for yourself. Be careful though in case any bearings fall out.

magicbastarder

how old is the bike?

cletus

What bike have you got? Does the 80 quid include labour, or is labour extra, not sure from your post

monty_python

I bought the bike about 3 years ago but used it very little until 4/5 weeks ago. It was used for racing before I bought it. The 80squid includes labour

It's a plant x carbon fiber road bike

monty_python

Here she is.

cletus

I would have thoiught a new headset would be no more than about 40. In which case its about 40 for labour. I have no idea whether thats expensive or not, I've never had work done in a bike shop

con747

Headset prices here https://www.planetx.co.uk/c/q/components/finishing-kit/head-sets, Labour price would be about right as anything over 30 minutes usually gets a full hourly charge.

Eamonnator

ChainReaction do a range of own brand headsets, Brand X.
If you can find out, if one of theirs fits your bike, they're about 15 euro.
Fitting is quite easy, you only need a couple of Allen keys.
There are lots of videos online. You do need to be careful with torque.
I have a Planet X, different model to yours, I changed the headset on mine last week, it took about 15 minutes.

byrnem31

Try tightening it first. I thought the headset on my fixie was shot. Brought it to the shop and they tightened it up. I didn't even think of tightening it myself. Felt like a thick.

07Lapierre

monty_python wrote: »

Picked up the bike. Owner of the shop says the bearings are damaged and I need a new headset. 80euro for parts plus labour.

Just buy the bearings and fit yourself?

https://www.google.ie/search?q=planet+x+headset+bearings&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-gb&client=safari

CramCycle

Id have guessed 20euro for the headset and with nothing more than a screw driver to tap out anything if needs be and some allen keys, you could do it in 5 minutes.

cletus

CramCycle wrote: »

Id have guessed 20euro for the headset and with nothing more than a screw driver to tap out anything if needs be and some allen keys, you could do it in 5 minutes.

A quick look online suggested 40 being the upper limit for a generic headset.

And yes, I'd agree with everything else you said

Eamonnator

I am pretty sure that this headset will fit.

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/brand-x-sealed-integrated-tapered-headset/rp-prod130924

That is, if it's a Planet X RT-90

monty_python

I would be confident enough to get the torque right. I'll have to bring it to the shop unless a helpful boardsie wants to help me out? ðŸ˜

magicbastarder

monty_python wrote: »

I would be confident enough to get the torque right. I'll have to bring it to the shop unless a helpful boardsie wants to help me out? ðŸ˜

Where are you based?

monty_python

magicbastarder wrote: »

Where are you based?

Lucan

CramCycle

I wouldn't be over worried about torque. The stem cap is just for preloading once everything is in the right place. Tighten it till it resists and the fork still moves freely, the stem is what actually holds it in place, and while you should torque this, in all my years I've never seen a bike mec do it and I certainly haven't. People may disagree but I just tighten as much as I can without threading for the stem.

Mercian Pro

CramCycle wrote: »

The stem is what actually holds it in place, and while you should torque this, in all my years I've never seen a bike mec do it and I certainly haven't. People may disagree but I just tighten as much as I can without threading for the stem.

Possibly the only bolt I ever snapped when working on my bikes!


Generally replacing headset bearings is one of the more straightforward jobs. It annoys me that I have had to change the lower one on an FSA headset three times in five years while the unknown brand on my older Cannondale has never needed any attention.

Idleater

monty_python wrote: »

Lucan

If you are stuck you're (in all likelihood) within 5km of me.

monty_python

I was out for a spin today and I could hear it clicking when I pulled the front break. Definitely need to get it sorted as soon as I can. Should I be worried about it during my 11k commute to work??

harringtonp

I replaced the headset on a planet x sl pro carbon a couple of weeks ago and its looks very similar to yours.

Why not take it apart carefully remembering the order of parts, all you need is an allen key and maybe a screwdriver to prise the bottom cap up. Clean everything as you take it off, take out the top bearing (which is usually the one that goes first) and see what it is like. If it needs replacing measure its dimensions and take note of any numbers on it. Put it all back in the reverse order tightening appropriately (and applying grease around the bearing if you have any) and then order the bearing if it is still loose.

CramCycle

Mercian Pro wrote: »

Possibly the only bolt I ever snapped when working on my bikes!


Generally replacing headset bearings is one of the more straightforward jobs. It annoys me that I have had to change the lower one on an FSA headset three times in five years while the unknown brand on my older Cannondale has never needed any attention.

Same here, never had an issue with headsets in bikes until recently and one bike has needed them replaced 3 times in 2 years. Bought a fancier brand headset this time around so hoping thats the difference

hesker

CramCycle wrote: »

Same here, never had an issue with headsets in bikes until recently and one bike has needed them replaced 3 times in 2 years. Bought a fancier brand headset this time around so hoping thats the difference

A certain guy on YouTube claims there is huge volume of fake bearings out there being sold widely by big online retailers and bike shops.

monty_python

I dropped the bike down to my local shop again. He took apart the headset and greased it. It's much better now with very little play in it but he said I still need a new headset. No charge for greasing it.
He doesn't deal with planet x so I'll have to order the part myself and he will fit it. That's a sound arrangement I think.
But I'm now confused what I should order. There doesn't seem to be a full headset listed on the planet x website

harringtonp

As a general thing I'm not even sure what exactly a headset it. There is a threaded bung which expands in the top of the fork. There is a screw which threads into that bung and there is a cap and spacers which go either side of the handlebars. Then there is the bearings which go into the top and bottom of the steerer tube.

I've bought the bung, screw, cap and spacers as a unit because the old bung was bust. I've also just replaced the bearings.

I'd get on to your mechanic and try and find out what exactly is on its way out.

Or maybe headset is a generally understood term which just confuses me but somebody here is clear on what exactly it is.

cletus

harringtonp wrote: »

As a general thing I'm not even sure what exactly a headset it. There is a threaded bung which expands in the top of the fork. There is a screw which threads into that bung and there is a cap and spacers which go either side of the handlebars. Then there is the bearings which go into the top and bottom of the steerer tube.

I've bought the bung, screw, cap and spacers as a unit because the old bung was bust. I've also just replaced the bearings.

I'd get on to your mechanic and try and find out what exactly is on its way out.

Or maybe headset is a generally understood term which just confuses me but somebody here is clear on what exactly it is.

The headset on a bicycle is all of those things.
But yes, I'd be asking what's actually worn, and what you need to order

Eamonnator

monty_python wrote: »

I dropped the bike down to my local shop again. He took apart the headset and greased it. It's much better now with very little play in it but he said I still need a new headset. No charge for greasing it.
He doesn't deal with planet x so I'll have to order the part myself and he will fit it. That's a sound arrangement I think.
But I'm now confused what I should order. There doesn't seem to be a full headset listed on the planet x website

What model is your bike?
Is it an RT-90?

monty_python

Eamonnator wrote: »

What model is your bike?
Is it an RT-90?

It's the rt-58

harringtonp

cletus wrote: »

The headset on a bicycle is all of those things.
But yes, I'd be asking what's actually worn, and what you need to order

That's the whole shebang in general terms but isn't an exact match of how my 2009 Planet X is set up.

Do they sell the whole lot as a set for specific bikes ? Any example links ?

I recently bought this "headset"

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/bbb-powerhead-compressor-adjuster-bap03/rp-prod29884

which is for a standard steerer and only a small part of setup illustrated above.

And this is the type of stuff you get when your search "headset" on CRC

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/headsets?keywordRedirectTerm=headset

See where I'm coming from. What's generally sold under "headset" is very different from the generic understanding of what parts it entails.

This is unlike bottom bracket where you do purchase the whole shebang

cletus

I know your search term was headset, but most of the items that are listed say "headset bottom cup", "headset top cap" or whatever component of the headset they are.

A headset is technically everything from the top cap to the crown race. Some bike setups might not use or need all components. I would think that when someone says a headset needs replacing, most of the time the are talking about the cups, bearings or races, or possibly some combination of those

The first item you bought is very clearly labelled as a "BBB PowerHead - Compressor Adjuster BAP03", not a headset

Eamonnator

https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/planet-x-rt-58-alloy.157606/

I know that your bike is the RT58 Carbon, however both frames use the same headset. The FSA Orbit C-40 no 42ACB-1 and is the same one used on the RT-90.

https://www.bike24.com/p2208429.html

This one from CRC is a cheaper direct replacement.

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/brand-x-sealed-integrated-tapered-headset/rp-prod130924?utm_source=affiliate-window&utm_medium=affiliates&utm_campaign=Skimlinks&utm_term=Skimlinks&utm_content=Sub+Networks&sv_campaign_id=78888&sv_tax1=affiliate&sv_tax2=159113&sv_tax3=Skimlinks&sv_tax4=boards.ie&sv_affiliate_id=78888&awc=2698_1604437776_1b7f97b9185fe76a0ec3195f2870dd8d&sv_campaign_id=78888&sv_tax1=affiliate&sv_tax2=159113&sv_tax3=Skimlinks&sv_tax4=0&sv_affiliate_id=78888

harringtonp

cletus wrote: »

I know your search term was headset, but most of the items that are listed say "headset bottom cup", "headset top cap" or whatever component of the headset they are.

A headset is technically everything from the top cap to the crown race. Some bike setups might not use or need all components. I would think that when someone says a headset needs replacing, most of the time the are talking about the cups, bearings or races, or possibly some combination of those

The first item you bought is very clearly labelled as a "BBB PowerHead - Compressor Adjuster BAP03", not a headset

True, no mention of headset in the term and its not in the above picture either. And I would have thought both it and the cap bolt are core headset components.

I'm a bit confused about the cups ? I thought the bearings on my steerer tube just fitted into shaped slots that were part of the steerer but now I'm wondering is there actually some sort of cup inside... that may have become so dirty over time that I mistook it as part of the tube.

cletus

harringtonp wrote: »

True, no mention of headset in the term and its not in the above picture either. And I would have thought both it and the cap bolt are core headset components.

I'm a bit confused about the cups ? I thought the bearings on my steerer tube just fitted into shaped slots that were part of the steerer but now I'm wondering is there actually some sort of cup inside... that may have become so dirty over time that I mistook it as part of the tube.

It's possible, but I've not seen that. Take a picture and post it up

monty_python

Planet x got back to me and said this is the headset for my rt-58
https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/HSSSELC1815D/selcof-sport-integrated-cup-angular-contact-cartridge-bearing-v2-headset-for-tapered-1-1-8th--15-fork-steerer

I have that ordered and will drop it down to the mechanic when it arrives

harringtonp

Its not particularly cheap. If you plan on holding on to the bike for a while, before giving the headset to your mechanic I'd try and identify the bearings using

https://www.bearing-king.co.uk/

Either purchase them or make a note of their sizes so you can purchase in future.

Its likely much of the existing headset is fine so I'd ask your mechanic to give all the components that come out back to you rather than binning them. You can then reuse them at a later stage or use them to verify replacement parts.

I tend to keep spare bearings for wheels, headsets and BBs... which can sometimes lead to other problems as you look at all these bearings and wonder what they are for.

cletus

I'd go a step further, and ask your mechanic what exactly needs replacing

CramCycle

Caution, this post will cast aspersions on a company that maybe unjustified. I would do neither. I would get the dimensions and buy a decent headset for 20 quid when this one fails. Planet X are not exactly known for QAing stuff. You could get lucky and if you do great but otherwise, that would be my recommendation. Or in future (if you are not fitting yourself) get your LBS to source the headset and fit it, that way if it fails, you can go back to them.

My preference would be to just get a pricier one, fit myself and hopefully not think about it for years to come.