N.Wood Posted June 2, 2005 Report Share Posted June 2, 2005 Afternoon ladies and gents, I'm running a Pazzaz stem on an Ashton fork fitted to a Hope headset on a Koxx LB. Right, the problem comes when i try to tighten the headset via the star fangled nut. It tightens fine, all is well, if a little stiff. But the main thing is that it doesn't rock back and forth. Anywho, after a bit of riding (especially after harsh taps or big up gaps to front) the headset becomes nice and fluid, however it rocks back and forth. So out comes Mr Allen key, tighten it up, it is fine if a little stiff blah blah blah, then it comes loose again :) I'm pretty sure the star fangled nut isn't being an arse and moving up the steerer or anything, but i can't think of what else could cause the repeated loosening of the headset. The stem bolts are done up tight etc., i'm confused <_< Thanks in advance kiddies, Woody :P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tartridge Posted June 2, 2005 Report Share Posted June 2, 2005 Have you had all the relevant bits faced etc? Precision sealed headsets don't tend to like non-uniform surfaces... Does the crown race still sit nicely onto the forks? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N.Wood Posted June 2, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2005 Yeh the crown race fits nicely with the forks, no problems there... However to my knowledge the frame hasn't been faced, that may well be the problem... And also the fact it was fitted by myself using an oh-so-shady home made headset press :"> Cheers for the help <_< Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caleb Posted June 2, 2005 Report Share Posted June 2, 2005 Maybe the star fangled nut could be threaded? happened to me and was a right b*****d or the bolt keeps coming loose? you could try loctite or a headlock possibly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N.Wood Posted June 2, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2005 Maybe the star fangled nut could be threaded? happened to me and was a right b*****d or the bolt keeps coming loose? you could try loctite or a headlock possibly. ← I'll check that out mate :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iatola says Posted June 2, 2005 Report Share Posted June 2, 2005 (edited) Use a proper head set press sealed are fussy especially hope i personally dont like them not worth the money but thats another issue, If they are in skew then they wont ever be perfect becasue it designed to be straight so hats how it works best. Facing off never hurt anyone either aslong as it a proper tool not some file or bodge job. Try these and if you are runing the "head doctor" throw it as far as possible. Stars the way Trev Edited June 2, 2005 by iatola says Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N.Wood Posted June 2, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2005 Use a proper head set press sealed are fussy especially hope i personally dont like them not worth the money but thats another issue, If they are in skew then they wont ever be perfect becasue it designed to be straight so hats how it works best. Facing off never hurt anyone either aslong as it a proper tool not some file or bodge job. Try these and if you are runing the "head doctor" throw it as far as possible. Stars the way Trev ← Yeh i'll have to give that a go, cheers :) I'm running a star nut, i couldn't get on too well with the Hed Doctor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iatola says Posted June 2, 2005 Report Share Posted June 2, 2005 (edited) Head doctor is a gimic to make people thing the star fangled nut is dated but heck so is the err Wheel and the Chain and the engine is quite old to and beer and women etc trev Edited June 2, 2005 by iatola says Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyroo Posted June 3, 2005 Report Share Posted June 3, 2005 This probably isnt it, but when i got some new forks, they werent cut down far enough (withing 3mm from the top of the stem), so evertime they were tightened up, they would come undone again over time and start wobbling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lukeee Posted June 3, 2005 Report Share Posted June 3, 2005 Head doctor is a gimic to make people thing the star fangled nut is dated but heck so is the err Wheel and the Chain and the engine is quite old to and beer and women etc trev ← Explain to me why you hate the head doctor then? I ran one for a year no probs. I think its a well thought out bit of kit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tank_rider Posted June 3, 2005 Report Share Posted June 3, 2005 Surely if it is tight, and you have done your stem bolts up properly, then that discounts any problems with the star fangled nut, as you can effectively take the stem cap out if you wanted and the stem would retain the pressure on the headset. This would lead me to believe it is a problem with the headset itself or the fitting of it. Have you taken the headset apart and checkd the bearings dont have any play in them, also check that the top compression cup hasnt been deformed though use when loose, as this can cause continued problems once the looseness has been initially resolved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N.Wood Posted June 3, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2005 That's kinda what i was thinking Andy, though i checked the bearings and cups and they all seemed true and smooth... Another bit of info, when i do the top cap up, then tighten the stem bolts, and keep the top cap tight after doing all the bolts up, the headset is really stiff to turn and makes a light scraping sound. It is all solved when the top cap is loosened off after the stem is tightened, but it just seems a bit odd :) Going by what you've all said, I recon it's something to do with the fitting/facing of the headset. I'll go and try to eliminate a few things, thanks for all your help boys :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biketrialler Posted June 3, 2005 Report Share Posted June 3, 2005 Explain to me why you hate the head doctor then? I ran one for a year no probs. I think its a well thought out bit of kit. ← I dont like mine because it was a bitch to get to tighten into my pashley forks - it kept spinning inside no matter how much it was tightened up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lukeee Posted June 3, 2005 Report Share Posted June 3, 2005 I dont like mine because it was a bitch to get to tighten into my pashley forks - it kept spinning inside no matter how much it was tightened up. ← It was like that from new? I've got a f**ked one out in the garage , Its been in about 10 bikes had about 4 owners and now its back with me , I usually just tigthened it up till it was a sqeeze to get in the steerer tube , then did the final bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dylan_ Posted June 4, 2005 Report Share Posted June 4, 2005 Is it possible you might have an ovaled head tube? Bearingss could be shot/not put in right. Try a new star nut, sometimes they are put in a little odd, and they can bend causing some problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N.Wood Posted June 4, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 4, 2005 It's definatly possible i have an ovalised headtube unfortunately, but i'm trying to find other options before i go buying a new frame :( I'll check the star nut :o Checked the bearings, they're all correctly fitted and greased. Cheers for your suggestions :o Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biketrialler Posted June 5, 2005 Report Share Posted June 5, 2005 It was like that from new? I've got a f**ked one out in the garage , Its been in about 10 bikes had about 4 owners and now its back with me , I usually just tigthened it up till it was a sqeeze to get in the steerer tube , then did the final bit. ← Actually that one was fresh out of the packet and just wouldnt work! In the end I got a star nut put in. When they work they work good though, had another one that I sold inside some tuf guys I had that went through a few different forks :- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N.Wood Posted June 5, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 5, 2005 Afternoon all... From what i can tell, i believe it has been either the forks and/or the star nut causing the problem. I recently bought a disk and had to swap over to some old forks with a disk mount. These forks didn't have a star nut so i used my old Hed Doctor...And the problem seems to have gone (Y) I tightened it all up, went to my favorite tapping wall, did a few taps (and a few f**king super harsh taps :) ) and a couple of hooks, and as far as i can tell all is still tight and good :- Cheers for your help boys and girls ;) Nick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dylan_ Posted June 5, 2005 Report Share Posted June 5, 2005 Thats good to hear, Happy riding :- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lukeee Posted June 6, 2005 Report Share Posted June 6, 2005 Actually that one was fresh out of the packet and just wouldnt work! In the end I got a star nut put in. When they work they work good though, had another one that I sold inside some tuf guys I had that went through a few different forks :P ← Sounds crazy , I mean the main body of the head doctor is like a nut and bolt. You'd think Simple design , simple operation... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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