Turn, baby, turn...

A correctly functioning headset can be the key to a better feeling and handling bike

A poorly adjusted or badly lookedafter headset can make a bike feel unstable. When loose, a headset can transfer extra vibrations through the whole bike, while a rusted or overtightened headset can require more force than necessary to turn the bars, becoming a potential hazard.

There are several different types but the principles of maintenance remain the same – whether a traditional external system with cups pressed into the frame, a less-popular internal cup system (where the bearings sit in a cup still pressed into the frame but sitting within the headtube), or an integrated setup where bearings sit in prepared surfaces in the head-tube itself. There are variations in preload mechanisms – ‘threaded’ headsets use a pair of nuts that thread on to the steerer to lock against each other, whereas ‘threadless’ systems take the preload away from the steerer-tube itself. Whether loose bearings or cartridge style, the service process is also the same.

01 R EMOVE T HE WHEEL

Put your bike in a workstand and remove the front wheel. Use a toe strap, zip tie, or similar, to prevent the fork dropping out of the frame when you remove the stem. You can use a hand for this, but only having one remaining to do the following steps can be awkward.

02 Remove t he for k

Undo the bolts holding the stem to the steerer tube. Undo and remove the preload bolt and top cap. Set out the parts in the order they are taken out. Remove the fork from the frame and rest it somewhere secure.

03 Clean and reinstall

Remove and inspect the bearings. Clean all components and reinstall in the correct order with a generous amount of grease, using new bearings if needed. Reassemble in the same order you laid the components out in.

04 Tighten the preload bolt

Tighten the preload bolt first (don’t over tighten); rock the front end back and forth with the front brake applied as you tighten; stop as soon as no more play can be felt. The bars should rotate freely when leaned from side to side.

05 Align the cockpit

Align the cockpit with the front wheel. It’s easiest to align the leading edge of the bars with some part of the front end, eg, the fork tips or the leading edge of the hub spacers. Ride the bike to confirm this is correctly done.

06 Secure the pinch bolts

Use a torque wrench to secure the pinch bolts. Follow the manufacturer’s recommended torque setting. An undertorqued component can slip; too much torque can crush a component and cause component failure.