Headset order:

[terriers]

Hi to everyone,
I had a new bike delivered yesterday that just needed the handlebars and seat putting on... easy right?
Well I have managed to screw it up somehow, first off put them on wrong way round, sorted that tightened everything up and noticed the headset, steering column was loose.
Tried tightening the top cap after loosening the stem bolts but it was already tight and would not go anymore.
I took the top cap nut out and removed the spacers to see what was happening.
I then took off the stuff above the bearing cup not noting down the order, as you do, it only has three anyway.
From what I can make out, (be easier if you looked at the pics) the part that sits on top of the bearings does not fit in, or should it even fit in? The whole steering tube is loose because there is nothing centering it.
So I am completely stumped now because I have now taken the fork out thinking I could then get the part to sit in the bearing cup, but I don't even know if it should fit in the cup, there is a rubber ring with four cut outs adjacent to each other Which I don't know where it's supposed to go.
Just to add the underside of the

piece above the bearings is completely flat on the underside, not conical
This is an electric bike by the way, not as if that matters but instructions are useless and would not be able to contact the manufacturer because I don't know who it is.
Any help would be greatly appreciated, on the order to put it back together and how to center the tube.
Thanks.

 

[TissoT]

 

[roadrash]

and remember to tighten the topcap BEFORE the stem bolts

 

[terriers]

Thanks,
I have looked at loads of those setups but they bear no relation to my setup.
If you look at my pictures there is no compression ring just a rubber ring so how do I centre the steering tube or have I missed something?
Thanks.

 

[midliferider]

If you are still confused, have a look at you tube video or makegood website. I had similar problem and sorted out after few trial and errors.

 

[robgul]

Given the situation of a) your apparent limited knowledge, and b) the safety aspect of riding - I'd take the whole lot to a bike shop and get them to put it all back together for you - small price to pay for the comfort of knowing it's correct and safe to ride.

Rob

 

[TissoT]

Thanks,
I have looked at loads of those setups but they bear no relation to my setup.
If you look at my pictures there is no compression ring just a rubber ring so how do I centre the steering tube or have I missed something?
Thanks.

Then as said above .. For piece of mind I would consider taking it to your LBS

 

[andytheflyer]

You tried to tighten the top cap bolt but it was already tight? That suggests to me that the bolt was binding, or it reached the end of its thread before the top cap pushed down on the spacers. Tightening the top cap bolt pushes the spacers (and stem) down and pulls up the steerer tube - thereby pushing both top and bottom bearings into their cup races.

If the top cap bolt went tight before the slack was taken up, then either the bolt ran out of thread, or the star nut is too high up the steerer tube, or there are not enough spacers to allow the bearings to be compressed into their races.

If the top cap bolt will screw all the way into the star nut (try this without the top cap) then it's not the bolt. I'd vote for the spacer height not being enough - you should be able to dry fit the bits and see why it's not working. Stand back, deep breath, coffee and cake in close proximity and think it through logically. It's not rocket science! You'll kick yourself if you take it to the LBS and it was something as simple as this. IME, very few things on a bicycle cannot be resolved with a clear head, coffee (or malt whisky), a bit of patience and an inquiring mind.

 

[terriers]

That might work if I could get it to a bike shop.
I do have limited knowledge yes, I just thought someone with more knowledge might be able to help me out.
I need to know if the headset was faulty when I got it or have I done it myself if I have there must be a way of putting it all back together.

To midlife rider, I have looked at loads of utubes and it looks quite straightforward but as I have said mine appears a bit different... how with the pieces I have in the picture do I get the tube centered in the frame, what holds it there.
Andytheflyer..........thanks for that....something I can try, great

 

[andytheflyer]

The second photo you posted shows the conical bearing surface, facing the correct way. The last photo shows everything you should have - except the stem and spacers. You can see the grease on the surface where the bearing fits. This is what the spacers push down on when the top cap nut is tightened. If its pushed down enough the steerer tube will not slop about in the head tube. The top cap bolt pushes the top cap down onto the spacers and the stem (you didn't show these) and push that bearing surface down onto the (shiny) ball bearing race (shown in the photo). It looks to me as everything is there - it's just the adjustment that's not right. The top cap bolt is either not going in far enough to push the top cap onto the spacers and hence down onto the bearing, or the spacers are too short.

You do have spacers presumably? When you mount the stem to take the 'bars, there are loose spacers which you can put above or below the stem to set the stem height where you want it. These spacers make up the distance around the steerer tube so that the top cap pushes the whole assembly down and tightens up the bearings - thereby removing the slop. That's why you tighten up the top cap first to take out the slop, then tighten the stem bolts to fix the stem to the steerer tube - that holds the bearings together at the correct compression. Then you can slacken the top cap bolt a bit - it's no longer doing anything once the stem bolts are tight - these are the ones that do all the work. Sometimes you need an extra spacer - sometimes you have to take one off - they come in different heights. The worst case is you have to cut a bit off the steerer tube to get everything to fit just right - but you should not need to do that - that's really the last resort. I'm fairly sure that the problem you have is that the top cap is not pressing down on the bearings - not enough spacers - but a bit of thinking and close inspection will prove that one way or the other.

 

[terriers]

I did mention earlier that it is not conical, just looks that way in the pic, it is completely flat underneath which is what I don't get, it does not "fit" it is above the bearings not inside.
I have just put it all back together after reading this elsewhere "Older versions did not have a centering cone but relied on an O-ring in the top bearing cap to keep it centered" so I tried that and it was a lot better but still the top cap nut does not bring up the slack, so to speak.
.

 

[raleighnut]

^^^^^+1 you need to adjust the bearings before you tighten the stem bolts on the steerer.

 

[terriers]

raleighnut adjust how? They just pull out and push in

 

[raleighnut]

raleighnut adjust how? They just pull out and push in

The tightness of the top cap is the bearing adjustment, fit it all together then screw the top cap down until the play on the headset is correct then tighten the stem bolts (after aligning the stem obviously) that's the bearings set then you can actually remove the top cap and bolt as it is redundant now
I wouldn't recommend removing it BTW the headset will look scruffy but it isn't actually doing anything other than filling the hole up once the stem bolts are tight.

 

[terriers]

Sorry for the reply's being out of sync but the moderator held them back for some reason.