anzo Posted April 18, 2006 Report Share Posted April 18, 2006 Morning all,Right, I'm running a set of Echo forks, a Try-All Stem and the standard t-pro headset. Its a Star-Nut bolt I'm using to tighten up with.Right, the problem is that I tighten my forks up (plenty of room between the top of my stem and the forks), and so I tighten it up and its fine, tighten the stem up (although bolts are f**ked and I can't tighten it too much).I ride and after about 10 minutes it works itself loose again so I can't ride anymore. Nothing appears to be slipping out, the starnut is solid, the steerer tube is solid, and I have no idea what could be causing it, other then the stem being too lose (even though it is 'fairly' tight).Any ideas? Its really annoying to have to stop and tighten it all up again every 10 minutes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duck Posted April 18, 2006 Report Share Posted April 18, 2006 Is your crown race fully pushed onto your forks? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poopipe Posted April 18, 2006 Report Share Posted April 18, 2006 The stem being loose wouldn't cause it anyway I wouldn't think. If you have to tighten it more than a couple of times it's probably not just the headset/forks bedding in after removal.I'd be inclined to think your headset's cacked - which is fairly likely if you're riding with it loose. Unless you've flared the headtube - which is also fairly likely if you're riding it with the headset loose.new headset then . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anzo Posted April 18, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2006 Is your crown race fully pushed onto your forks?Yep, its about half and inch down The stem being loose wouldn't cause it anyway I wouldn't think. If you have to tighten it more than a couple of times it's probably not just the headset/forks bedding in after removal.I'd be inclined to think your headset's cacked - which is fairly likely if you're riding with it loose. Unless you've flared the headtube - which is also fairly likely if you're riding it with the headset loose.new headset then .I don't think I've flared the headset, its CNC'd Aluminium, I'd imagine it would be way too hard to flare. Plus the flaring would be obvious from as soon as I tightened the forks at all because it would be constantly loose.The headset appears to be fine, no cracks, flats or any other obvious damage.I can tighten it like mad, but no matter how much I do it, it always works itself loose again. All I can think of is converting to a headlock bolt?Many thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian Posted April 18, 2006 Report Share Posted April 18, 2006 Secong dibs on RB if Joe don't want it.sounds like you need another spacer under your stem, try that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caleb Posted April 18, 2006 Report Share Posted April 18, 2006 sounds to me like the threads on the star nut have worn, or stripped, try knocking it out and using a headlock.but remember knock out from the bottom side up as the steere is usually riveted or tapered at the bottom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun H Posted April 18, 2006 Report Share Posted April 18, 2006 sounds like you need another spacer under your stem, try thatIt's either that or you need a new star nut. When my headset was doing this it was driving me nuts trying to figure out what was causing it. As soon as I put in a new star nut (using the proper tool) all was ok again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Booth Posted April 18, 2006 Report Share Posted April 18, 2006 Go to your LBS and buy a new star nut, When I got my new bt forks, I went threw 3 start nuts, All used before. as soon as i fitted a new one, it was sorted (same problem as yourself) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anzo Posted April 18, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2006 Its my 3rd starnut this one is about a week old, fitted properly and its nice and solid with clean threads.I have some spare spacers, but I dont need them as there is plenty of room between the top of my steerer tube and the stem, any more spacers and the bolt won't reach the starnut.I'm going to try putting some new bolts on the stem and tightening it up harder too see if that makes a difference, its the only solution I can think of.Correct me if I'm wrong, but arent T-pro headsets a b*****d? Meaning I can only use certain ones? If so, which? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAB Posted April 18, 2006 Report Share Posted April 18, 2006 Morning all,Right, I'm running a set of Echo forks, a Try-All Stem and the standard t-pro headset. Its a Star-Nut bolt I'm using to tighten up with.Right, the problem is that I tighten my forks up (plenty of room between the top of my stem and the forks), and so I tighten it up and its fine, tighten the stem up (although bolts are f**ked and I can't tighten it too much).I ride and after about 10 minutes it works itself loose again so I can't ride anymore. Nothing appears to be slipping out, the starnut is solid, the steerer tube is solid, and I have no idea what could be causing it, other then the stem being too lose (even though it is 'fairly' tight).Any ideas? Its really annoying to have to stop and tighten it all up again every 10 minutes.It won't be the star nut as all their meant for is to hold the head set together and tight till you do the stem up!!! if your headset come loose it's the stem, pure and simple... you even said it your self that the bolts are f#cked...... get new bolts or a stem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun H Posted April 18, 2006 Report Share Posted April 18, 2006 (edited) It won't be the star nut as all their meant for is to hold the head set together and tight till you do the stem up!!! if your headset come loose it's the stem, pure and simple... you even said it your self that the bolts are f#cked...... get new bolts or a stem WRONG!That's exactly what I thought when my bike was being ghey and I argued extensively with Ko Ko about it. I ended up stripping the threads in an Azonic stem trying to tighten them enough to stop my headset coming loose but it only gave me an extra 5 minutes riding at most. I'm not sure what it is now but it can't be the stem not being tight enough. Edited April 18, 2006 by Shaun H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAB Posted April 19, 2006 Report Share Posted April 19, 2006 WRONG!That's exactly what I thought when my bike was being ghey and I argued extensively with Ko Ko about it. I ended up stripping the threads in an Azonic stem trying to tighten them enough to stop my headset coming loose but it only gave me an extra 5 minutes riding at most. I'm not sure what it is now but it can't be the stem not being tight enough.I hate to repeat my self but i've been a bike mechanic for over 12 years and was there when the a-head set was first used, and your stem is what holds the head set together and the star nut is only there to pull it together till you tighten the stem, FACT if you stem won't hold the headset tight, there's something wrong with it.The only exception is the head-lock system which goes through the steerer and clamps the whole thing tight, but weighs allot... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawnmowerman Posted April 19, 2006 Report Share Posted April 19, 2006 I've had problems with t-pro headsets before. Take the bearings out and make sure the bearing cage hasnt come apart, if it has dont bother fixing it as itll just fall apart again so youll prpbably need new bearings Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramps Posted April 19, 2006 Report Share Posted April 19, 2006 Its my 3rd starnut this one is about a week old, fitted properly and its nice and solid with clean threads.I have some spare spacers, but I dont need them as there is plenty of room between the top of my steerer tube and the stem, any more spacers and the bolt won't reach the starnut.I'm going to try putting some new bolts on the stem and tightening it up harder too see if that makes a difference, its the only solution I can think of.Correct me if I'm wrong, but arent T-pro headsets a b*****d? Meaning I can only use certain ones? If so, which?If T-PRO headsets are the same as the ones out of a T-REX then you can use an onza internal one and I believe cane creek make a compatible one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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