Damaged Innards of Headset

[bennydorano]

Ignorant whore that I am I have busted the guts of my headset trying to flip the handlebars (tightening the headset screw too much). Apart from realising that a Torque wrench might be a good investment what sort of damage have I done? I actually have a spare headset and thought I just change it, but it's the innards that are bucked. Is it a big job? Not that I'll probably attempt to fix it myself, just dont want to get robbed at the LBS. Please tell me is a £5 part and a 2 minute job

 

[accountantpete]

Pics please

I don't know what headset you have but off the top of my head there is only the bearing cage or compression ring that could buckle.

If it is the former you can try and straighten it out - will know better with pics.

 

[bennydorano]

I'm trying to get pics sorted here, but there's i doubt there's any straightening to be done - it's bucked. The headset screw still has the innards attached - where the innards have come away from look mangled to me.

 

[bennydorano]

My link

Pic 2

Excuse the hamfistedness - wouldn't accept photos from my newly created flickr account - I'm obviously doing something wrong.

 

[smokeysmoo]

Suspect one of THESE would sort that out. Any clearer pics though?

[EDIT] all pics viewable on first link. Link 3 doesn't work.

 

[bennydorano]

I've added another few photos, prob no better quality thou as it's from my HTC

 

[smokeysmoo]

Yeah you've ripped the star washer out. Star washers are a bit bobbins anyway, but you could replace it like for like if you wanted, but the Hope Head Doctor would be a decent upgrade if you have the cash.

As for fitting, AASHTA

 

[bennydorano]

Suspect one of THESE would sort that out. Any clearer pics though?

[EDIT] all pics viewable on first link. Link 3 doesn't work.

Thanks for the help.

Viewed a hope youtube clip on how to insert, looks handy enough. Is it just a matter of being ignorant getting the damaged starwasher out? Pliers? (seeing as though ignorance got me here in the first place)

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

Is it just a matter of being ignorant getting the damaged starwasher out? Pliers? (seeing as though ignorance got me here in the first place)

You can try pliers, but if difficult a generally accepted way to deal with unwanted/damaged star fangled nut is simply to push it down a bit and leave it there as long as there is room for the new one.

 

[smokeysmoo]

You can try pliers, but if difficult a generally accepted way to deal with unwanted/damaged star fangled nut is simply to push it down a bit and leave it there as long as there is room for the new one.

+1

 

[bennydorano]

Came out suprisingly easy with the pliers. When the head doctor arrives - is it as easy to insert as it looks on the youtube clip? (it couldn't slip down never to be seen again?)

 

[henshaw11]

If it does slip down you can always push it back up again from the bottom with a screwdriver, etc.

Headdoctors *are* easy to use, but take good notice of the instructions IIRC you have to tighten the o-ring/ally bung section inside the stem first, which replaces the star-fangled-nut (SFN), then fit the top cap and long ally bolt, but only tighten it enough to take the slop out of the bearings (with the stem bolts undone, of course) - I've seen more than a few forum posts where people have tightened the heck out of the topcap bolt and sheared it (tho' usually 'cos they haven't loosened the stem bolts at the same time, and wonder why the bearings still have slack in them...)

 

[bennydorano]

Suspect one of THESE would sort that out.

I purchased the above without investigating size etc.. I'm having awful bother getting the bastid in - it wont drop in 10mm below top cap (per Hope youtube video) which makes me think it's not the right size for My Bike ?

Can anyone enlighten me further please. I've also managed to get the bolt clamp stuck fast to the innner bit of the head doctor and cant get it off

 

[bennydorano]

****ed it up good and proper, new Hed Doctor ordered. No instructions came with the HD, surely not too difficult to sort for newbies/dummies like myself?

 

[bennydorano]

Ok, got the 2nd Hed Doctor and have it on after a couple of attempts. I'm reasonably happy with it - but would just be worried its not 100% flush were the steering column comes through the bike frame to meet handlebars. Any tests I can do to make sure it's 100% safe?