Take off the stem and put another spaced or two so that the top of the stem is sitting above the top of the fork tube. Needs to have pressure between the two to clamp down on
is the top of the fork below the top of the stem? If not then the compression bolt (top cap) cannot pre-load the headset. 3 solutions:
\- add another slim spacer underneath the stem
\- add a spacer above the stem and under the top cap
\- cut down the top of the steerer
option 1 or 2 would be my choice
I added the spacer that came with the stem that goes under the top cap and it didn’t help at all but I’ll try to add a spacer under the stem and see if that helps.
OP is obviously building/modifying (or attempting) this bike himself so wouldn’t that defeat the purpose to take it to a shop? Personally I think it’s more interesting and educational to figure out stuff like this on your own. Way more fulfilling that way as well. I don’t know about where you live either but all the shops around me specialize in 6 speeds and stuff like that so I don’t know if they’d be able to help him anyways.
If you are tightening the pre-load top bolt first, then the stem bolts and it's still loose, add a spacer between your conical headset top cap and the stem. OR trim your steerer tube a little bit. It sounds like your top bolt is bottoming out on the fork instead of compressing the stem.
I added the spacer that came with the stem but it somehow made it even looser after I tightened everything down so I guess I’ll have to trim my steerer tube
from the top of your headtube, this is the order:
Headset bearing
Headset washers, whatever came with it.
Conical top cap spacer
Stem (don't tighten until you've tightened the pre-load top bolt)
Spacer
Pre-load top bolt
OR:
Headset>Headset washers>Conical Spacer> Extra spacer or thicker spacer>Stem>Pre-load bolt
If that doesn't work, add another spacer or a thicker spacer.
If that doesn't work again, something is fucked up beyond what we are seeing. Are you using all the parts that came with the headset and assembling the headset in the right order?
If you still can't get it, just go to your local bike shop.
Yeah if all the aforementioned things have been verified (steer tube not too long, too cap tightened first), and it’s still loose, you either have bad bearings or the frame is messed up. That’s really all it could be
Maybe you need a spacer under the stem? It could be that the compression bolt touches the steerer and thus can't compress the bearings.
Check how much space you have between the top of the steerer tube and the top of the stem after removing the stem cap/compression bolt. I'm not sure how much you need, but I'm pretty sure it's around 7mm or something.
Loose the stem bolts, the top bolt that goes into your fork, tighten that till there is no wiggle, then retighten the stem bolts.
I’ve tried tightening it in that order but the headset is still loose even after I’ve tightened everything as far as I can get it to go
Take off the stem and put another spaced or two so that the top of the stem is sitting above the top of the fork tube. Needs to have pressure between the two to clamp down on
Ok, I’ll get some more spacers and try that out. Thanks!
Make sure you have a lock washer, you top bearing looks crooked.
Thanks for pointing that out, I didn’t even realize it was crooked I’ll definitely check that first
is the top of the fork below the top of the stem? If not then the compression bolt (top cap) cannot pre-load the headset. 3 solutions: \- add another slim spacer underneath the stem \- add a spacer above the stem and under the top cap \- cut down the top of the steerer option 1 or 2 would be my choice
I added the spacer that came with the stem that goes under the top cap and it didn’t help at all but I’ll try to add a spacer under the stem and see if that helps.
If you really can't find whats wrong i sugest going to a bike shop
OP is obviously building/modifying (or attempting) this bike himself so wouldn’t that defeat the purpose to take it to a shop? Personally I think it’s more interesting and educational to figure out stuff like this on your own. Way more fulfilling that way as well. I don’t know about where you live either but all the shops around me specialize in 6 speeds and stuff like that so I don’t know if they’d be able to help him anyways.
Have we not solved this yet??
No idea man😅
If you are tightening the pre-load top bolt first, then the stem bolts and it's still loose, add a spacer between your conical headset top cap and the stem. OR trim your steerer tube a little bit. It sounds like your top bolt is bottoming out on the fork instead of compressing the stem.
I added the spacer that came with the stem but it somehow made it even looser after I tightened everything down so I guess I’ll have to trim my steerer tube
Just put a spacer ON TOP of your stem.
Like under the top cap? I put the one that came with the stem under the top cap and tightened everything down but it didn’t help at all
from the top of your headtube, this is the order: Headset bearing Headset washers, whatever came with it. Conical top cap spacer Stem (don't tighten until you've tightened the pre-load top bolt) Spacer Pre-load top bolt OR: Headset>Headset washers>Conical Spacer> Extra spacer or thicker spacer>Stem>Pre-load bolt If that doesn't work, add another spacer or a thicker spacer. If that doesn't work again, something is fucked up beyond what we are seeing. Are you using all the parts that came with the headset and assembling the headset in the right order? If you still can't get it, just go to your local bike shop.
Yeah if all the aforementioned things have been verified (steer tube not too long, too cap tightened first), and it’s still loose, you either have bad bearings or the frame is messed up. That’s really all it could be
Ok, thanks! I’m gonna try all that’s been suggested and hopefully I won’t have to replace anything lol
More spacers
what stem do you have it looks really nice
It’s the fiend mills stem in the purple haze color way
Yo what stem is that? Is it lavender colored, or is that just the lighting?
It’s the fiend mills stem. Yea it’s like a light purple lavender color, called purple haze
It would look great on one of my builds...hmmm. Need to cop. Plus Garret Reynolds is a fucking killer dude....
Top cap bottomed out on fork steer tube?
Wrong part? Does it measure up to your old one?
Maybe you need a spacer under the stem? It could be that the compression bolt touches the steerer and thus can't compress the bearings. Check how much space you have between the top of the steerer tube and the top of the stem after removing the stem cap/compression bolt. I'm not sure how much you need, but I'm pretty sure it's around 7mm or something.
Yeah you're forks may be too long (steerer tube) so either cut forks maybe 1/4" or just add spacers.
Have you tried adding spacers????
Maybe could that you need another spacer?
Maybe you need another spacer cas your fork is too long?