Blake Posted August 31, 2012 Report Share Posted August 31, 2012 I was riding in bristol the other week (with none other than nick cooke) and I mentioned to him that my headset comes loose really quickly and when I tighten it, it seems to over tighten so it's too stiff, or have a little bit of headshake. Nick said that the headtube is flared and that I should have it faced, but will this actually help or is my frame buggered? any way to tell if the problem is caused by something else? Also, how much would a local bike shop charge for it to be face? Frame is a ko km1 (pretty freaking old) FANX!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isitafox Posted August 31, 2012 Report Share Posted August 31, 2012 It'd help slightly as the headset cup would effectively be sat lower in the headtube where it is the correct diameter (right term?). As for the price I'd say roughly £10-£15 maybe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isitafox Posted August 31, 2012 Report Share Posted August 31, 2012 I think this is correct anyway so here's the obligatory rough paint drawing to demonstrate! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cap Posted August 31, 2012 Report Share Posted August 31, 2012 Facing the headtube would not remove that much material to make a difference I wouldn't of thought. Could always remove the cups, put stud and bearing fit on them and refit (might work) it will all depend on how bad the frame is. Hope this helps! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isitafox Posted August 31, 2012 Report Share Posted August 31, 2012 Ah well, was worth a guess! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomturd Posted August 31, 2012 Report Share Posted August 31, 2012 Thought about replacing the headset with one with deeper cups? (Not sure if thats the right term, but google understood) http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=24983 I suggested this before to someone in the same situation, and I think they had a reason not to do this, but I forgot 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blake Posted August 31, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2012 hm, might be worth changing the cups to my first blog ones, as apposed to the odd ones that are in it at the moment. What should I use to remove the cups? a screwdriver? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomturd Posted August 31, 2012 Report Share Posted August 31, 2012 Yeah. A screwdriver in the opposite end of the headtube to the cup you're hammering out, with the screwdriver blade against the inside lip of the cup. Don't try to prize them out (I'm not sure why anyone would do that but you never know ) My mates dad once made a 'tool' to help get them out without marking the headset. Its basically a big washer (the size of the internal diameter of a headtube), with cut 2 flats into it, allowing it to pass through a headset cup, into the head tube, and rest on the lip of the headset cup. Then get a bit of wood and smash it out from the other end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdamR28 Posted August 31, 2012 Report Share Posted August 31, 2012 ^^ That's clever! Other way is get a bit of pipe, slice it into quarters lengthways, then bend them out a bit: http://images.esellerpro.com/2375/I/438/02/ice_tool_rocket.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike Posted August 31, 2012 Report Share Posted August 31, 2012 Yeah. A screwdriver in the opposite end of the headtube to the cup you're hammering out, with the screwdriver blade against the inside lip of the cup. Don't try to prize them out (I'm not sure why anyone would do that but you never know ) My mates dad once made a 'tool' to help get them out without marking the headset. Its basically a big washer (the size of the internal diameter of a headtube), with cut 2 flats into it, allowing it to pass through a headset cup, into the head tube, and rest on the lip of the headset cup. Then get a bit of wood and smash it out from the other end. I made my own version of this; http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Park-Tool-RT2-Head-Cup-Remover-1-1-4-and-1-1-2-inch_11284.htm I used a length of steel tube (old pair of handle bars would probably do) and cut 4 slits about 6-8 inches deep and just spread them apart till they were too big to fit in the head-tube, then I squeezed it to get it in the headtube and onto the lip of the cup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bike_dummie Posted August 31, 2012 Report Share Posted August 31, 2012 The washer idea works very well but you may need to make one of the corners rounded as I found it would get stuck at an angle in the Headtube when turning the tool around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eskimo Posted September 3, 2012 Report Share Posted September 3, 2012 Did nots say thats Or you misunderstood. If the headset has been loose for a while it could be flared. If it's the headset being shit, then a face will really help. If you can tell how much it's flared by fitting two different headsets, though if you're not familiar with that sort of thing you probably won't be able to judge how bad it is. I suggest strip it, and get a good bike shop to check for damage. They'll be able to tell you what exactly is going on. There are some bodge fixes for flared headtubes, and some good ones. The good ones, cost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blake Posted September 4, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 4, 2012 Just changed cups and one bearing race on my headset, pretty stiff so going to look into getting a sealed one soon (viz most likely) cheers for all the help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CalRobbo341 Posted September 9, 2012 Report Share Posted September 9, 2012 A bit off topic, but also on topic, but what causes a headtube to get/be flared? Is it the way you install/remove the headset or something? Sorry if it is really obvious Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamKidney Posted September 9, 2012 Report Share Posted September 9, 2012 Generally happens due to the headset being removed/installed unevenly. Can also occur from frequent removal/installation of the headset over time. The cups of the headset can also cause the same effect. Take my SL, due to me snapping/cracking numerous frames in the last few months, its been in and out of frames around 8 times. Got my Echo, brand new headtube, should be a tight fit. My headset went in fairly easily because the cups themselves are worn. Should get a new one in soonish really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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