Have I bought a "Friday Afternooner" ?

[Chilternrides]

Recently bought a Marin Lombard for commuting, some light day-touring and possibly some light trail riding.

Love it apart from two things:

1. It has a small toe-overlap, but I'm aware of that and ride accordingly.

2. This is the biggie - the headset seems to loosen very easily; the bars stay secure to the steerer ok, but the steerer tube seems to sort of extend of its own accord.

To explain more clearly, the spacers between the bars and the frame develop small gaps in between them, and a very visible fore and aft rocking of the forks is obvious too (first noticed it under braking - it felt like I was riding on cobbles).

For example if I'm stationary and gently apply the front brake, it is easy to see the unwanted flex happening, and a small gap opens up between the frame and the shoulders of the fork - not very comforting!

I have had it back to the shop and it was re-adjusted, but less that two weeks later it's the same again (I have adjusted it myself and it's better, but not as it should be).

As it's new, I'm reluctant to start pulling it apart myself, so it's back to the shop I'm afraid; I'm just a bit concerned that I may have bought the last one off the production line late on a Friday!

Anyone had a similar experience, or a have a solution to offer please?

 

[gwhite]

The Headset appears to be coming loose and this should not happen. It may be that the Headset in incorrectly assembled in that once the bearings are adjusted for no play, the Stem pinch bolts should lock the unthreaded steering tube allowing no further movement. I wonder if the ball-bearing races have been assembled upside-down but the shop should have sorted this out when the bike was returned.

 

[betty swollocks]

It's new so take it back to the shop and get them to sort it again.
Assuming it's got a threadless headset, check here to see if you're doing it right.
If you are and the shop is and it still keeps coming loose, I can only assume that tightening the top allen bolt is dragging the star-fangled nut up the steerer. If this is the case, you'll never get the headset adjusted properly........in which case, take it to the shop, get them to bash out the old star-fangled nut, replace it and re-tighten headset.

.....and what the others said

 

[MontyVeda]

sounds like the headset hasn't been fitted properly i.e the top and bottom cups aren't perfectly aligned.

Years ago i tried fitting a headset myself with a hammer... it looked ok but wouldn't tighten properly.

If you've already taken it to a bike shop, try a different one?

 

[Chilternrides]

Thanks all - back to the shop armed with some suggestions from above...

 

[Chilternrides]

Thanks all - back to the shop armed with some suggestions from above...

Well, it got worse so back to the shop it went.

The steerer tube is supposed to be a force-fit splined drive into the top of the fork - I felt my stomach flip over as I watched the mechanic simply pull it apart with his hands

A phone call to the UK distributors caused a panic button press and they are coming out to collect the offending item for investigation purposes; and to deliver a replacement of course.

So if it's new and it wobbles where it shouldn't, take it back early folks! I'm just thankful that I'm not writing this with no chin and very short teeth...

 

[fossyant]

Lucky escape

 

[bad boy]

Blimey !!!

How did it get delivered like this ??