Headset keeps coming loose (threaded steerer)

[KneesUp]

I seem to be a magnet for loose headsets. I used to tighten the headset of the road bike I had as a teenager by hand because I didn't have a spanner to fit. It was sort of a habit to just nip it up a bit before setting off.

I am now doing the same with my mountain bike, and I've noticed that the headset on my daughter's bike is also loose. As it the headset on my wife's bike. They are all quill stems with threaded steerers.

Obviously tightening them by hand isn't getting them tight enough, but what causes them to come loose in the first place? Is it worn bearings? Would it be advisable to replace them before I buy/borrow a set of headset spanners?

I should add that all the bikes are second hand, although the kids bike is hardly used, so may never have been tight in the first place.

 

[Dogtrousers]

what causes them to come loose in the first place?

I would suggest that it might be not tightening them up with a spanner.

I'm not being sarky by the way, although it might come across like that. <- non sarky smiley

 

[KneesUp]

I know that's why they keep coming loose - but what makes them come loose in the first place? Is it an inherent design flaw in the old style headset?

I did tighten the one on my bike a few weeks back (albeit with some grips rather than a proper spanner) and it's loose again.

 

[John the Canuck]

i have/had this all the time
the 1st Peugeot could be locknut tightened , and after 30miles the top race could be tightened by 1/2 turn by hand...............
it has a ball bearing system....i have given up
PS - you do have a locking ring [ with small pip ] between upper race and locknut..?

the recent second bike had totally rusted headset frame cups and ball races
so replaced with a Tange Seiki Falcon [ check your stack height.] with sealed bearings .........no problems..!!

 

[Dogtrousers]

I know that's why they keep coming loose - but what makes them come loose in the first place? Is it an inherent design flaw in the old style headset?

I did tighten the one on my bike a few weeks back (albeit with some grips rather than a proper spanner) and it's loose again.

Oh, I see. Sorry.

I don't know. They just do. Death, taxes, wobbly headsets and inconvenient punctures.

 

[KneesUp]

Oh, I see. Sorry.

I don't know. They just do. Death, taxes, wobbly headsets and inconvenient punctures.

As long as it's "a thing" that's ok I suppose. I've never noticed anyone else complaining about it, so I thought it might be something I was doing wrong!

 

[KneesUp]

i have/had this all the time
the 1st Peugeot could be locknut tightened , and after 30miles the top race could be tightened by 1/2 turn by hand...............
it has a ball bearing system....i have given up
PS - you do have a locking ring [ with small pip ] between upper race and locknut..?

the recent second bike had totally rusted headset frame cups and ball races
so replaced with a Tange Seiki Falcon [ check your stack height.] with sealed bearings .........no problems..!!

Yep that's me - my Peugeot Premiere used to do it too. And yet I have my dad's Peugeot (something) and it isn't loose at all and never has been in it's 35 years of existence as far as I know.

Not sure if there is a locking ring in there - I'll have a look. The bike has Tange tubes, so a Tange headset would be a nice addition though

 

[Dogtrousers]

As long as it's "a thing" that's ok I suppose. I've never noticed anyone else complaining about it, so I thought it might be something I was doing wrong!

Well, mine does come loose, but not really all the time. I tighten it up every couple of months maybe. That's a lot more often than, say, I look at wheel bearings.

 

[raleighnut]

Tighten the lock nut against the threaded top race, 2 spanners or grips and a spanner needed.

 

[fossyant]

If you have the correct spanners the headset shouldn't come loose.

 

[Crankarm]

One of my bikes has a quill stem with a Campag Record threaded headset which has never ever come loose. I guess there are head sets and there are head sets.

 

[fossyant]

Headset spanners are worth getting. Decathlon sell them and they are a very good fit - i.e. reduces the chance of marking the lock nut (if thats your thing). Hand tight is not enough.

 

[KneesUp]

So is it just that they've come lose over time and I'm not tightening them enough? Is the consensus that the bearings are probably fine? (I know I could take them apart and look, but somehow putting them back together from bits knowing you're going to hand tighten them is worse than doing it before each ride!)

 

[fossyant]

If they haven't been tightened up properly in the first place, they can work loose. Road vibrations cause it. Bearings - if gone will be rough - you'll feel this turning the bars.

 

[Smokin Joe]

This thread reminds me why I was glad to see the back of threaded headsets, along with pre cartridge bottom brackets they were a pain in the neck.