Creaky headset?

[potsy]

Ok, so I have a creaking noise coming from somewhere on the bike, seems like it's towards the front forks/headset/stem/bars area
Worse when I'm going uphill and pulling on the bars which leads me to think it's stem/headset related.

I slightly tightened the headset the other day, not too much but it's made no real difference, would taking it apart and re-greasing help?
If I do this how easy is it?

ps- the bike is not quite a year old so would I be best taking it back to the lbs or will they count creaks as normal wear and tear?

 

[martint235]

Overtightened it is my guess. Mine creaks if I overtighten it.

 

[potsy]

Overtightened it is my guess. Mine creaks if I overtighten it.

It was creaking before though Martin, I thought this might help.
Only started a few weeks ago

 

[marzjennings]

Maybe grit/dirt caught between bar and stem and steerer tube. Take a note of how your bars are currently set up and then strip down, clean thoroughly, rebuild. Should take about 10-20mins.

My saddle starts to creak after the 4-5th ride after every clean up. I take it off, clean it and I'm good to go.

 

[martint235]

It was creaking before though Martin, I thought this might help.
Only started a few weeks ago

Take it apart then just making sure it all goes back the same way. Make sure the races are clean. If it's still creaking after that, it may need a new headset. It's not a Giant is it?

 

[potsy]

Take it apart then just making sure it all goes back the same way. Make sure the races are clean. If it's still creaking after that, it may need a new headset. It's not a Giant is it?

Maybe grit/dirt caught between bar and stem and steerer tube. Take a note of how your bars are currently set up and then strip down, clean thoroughly, rebuild. Should take about 10-20mins.

My saddle starts to creak after the 4-5th ride after every clean up. I take it off, clean it and I'm good to go.

Thanks, sounds like a good clean and grease then over the weekend, headsets are a part of the bike I have yet to tackle, the Secteur's has never been touched in nearly 3 years and 9000 miles.
This one is 9 months and 3000 miles old, it's a Tricross Martin.

 

[ianrauk]

Thanks, sounds like a good clean and grease then over the weekend, headsets are a part of the bike I have yet to tackle, the Secteur's has never been touched in nearly 3 years and 9000 miles.
This one is 9 months and 3000 miles old, it's a Tricross Martin.

It's very easy to take apart, clean, re-grease and put together.
Have a go Pots.

 

[zeb]

I had exactly the same issue a couple of weeks ago. My headset is semi-integrated (internal to the head tube, but with cups) with loose beads. Disassembling, cleaning regreasing and reassembling was easy and solved the issue completely.​

Beware if your headset uses loose beads not to lose them! You may consider replacing the beads (they are so cheap), and use a good grease (I use Finish Line with Teflon, great stuff) generously. Originally, there was just a thin oil, no wonder grit was able to enter the headset mechanism.​

 

[ianrauk]

I had exactly the same issue a couple of weeks ago. My headset is semi-integrated (internal to the head tube, but with cups) with loose beads. Disassembling, cleaning regreasing and reassembling was easy and solved the issue completely.
Beware if your headset uses loose beads not to lose them! You may consider replacing the beads (they are so cheap), and use a good grease (I use Finish Line with Teflon, great stuff) generously. Originally, there was just a thin oil, no wonder grit was able to enter the headset mechanism.

Potsy's bike will have 2 set's of sealed bearings and a stop shim.
Just a case of dropping the forks, out with the bearings, clean, grease and replace.

 

[potsy]

Cheers, sounds easy enough, and I have some grease ready to go

 

[ianrauk]

Cheers, sounds easy enough, and I have some grease ready to go

Remember to take off the front brake from the forks before you drop the forks Pots.

 

[potsy]

Remember to take off the front brake from the forks before you drop the forks Pots.

You mean the actual disc caliper?
This is getting more complicated

 

[zeb]

Potsy's bike will have 2 set's of sealed bearings and a stop shim.
Just a case of dropping the forks, out with the bearings, clean, grease and replace.

You mean an internal (or integrated) bearing? A bit off topic, but Chris King made a paper saying this was not good because they had no cups, and that head tubes could not be machined with a precision as high as external or semi-integrated cups., is this correct? I have seen many high-end bikes like Trek using them anyway. Has the technology improved?

 

[zeb]

You mean the actual disc caliper?
This is getting more complicated

When you unscrew the top cap of yoour fork (above the bars) then the fork can be pull down completely. If you are unsure, you should go to a LBS. Furthermore, they would easily identify the bearings you'll need. There are several headset types and sub-types..

 

[zeb]

See http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help/threadless-headset-service (assuming a threadless headset).