Headset too tight - damage?

[lulubel]

I just want to check if I've done any harm here.

I'd noticed a slight clunking noise recently when I was out of the saddle, that I eventually diagnosed as being caused by a loose headset (thanks to my wonderful LBS). I loosened the 2 bolts on the stem, then the top piece (which I took right out so I could take the bars off and move one of the spacers from below them, which I'd been meaning to do for a long time) then put the whole lot back together, nice and tight, so it was in no danger of coming loose again.

Looking at the Sheldon Brown site later on, I discovered it's possible to do it too tight and, sure enough, when I lifted the front of the frame, the wheel stayed pointing perfectly forwards. I undid the stem bolts, loosened the top a quarter turn, and tightened the stem bolts again, and now it's working as it should, but I just want to check before I ride it that I haven't done any damage by overtightening it. I didn't ride it when it was done up too tight.

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

If you had ridden the bike with the bearings binding then it would have accelerated their wear, and if you did do any significant damage (which I think is extremely unlikely) you should be able to feel some notchiness.

In any case it is most unlikely for what you did to give rise to any safety issue - from what I see a good proportion of cup and cone bike wheel hubs running on the road have bearings badly set.

 

[lukesdad]

Nothing to worry about IMO.

 

[rustychisel]

you'll be fine having now learnt the essential lesson about those headsets.

the topcap bolt is merely there to set the correct preload on the bearings. The stem pinch bolts are done up after that and hold all things firmly together. DO NOT attempt to adjust headset bearings before loosening off the stem bolts.

 

[lulubel]

Thanks, everyone. I can now go for my morning ride confident my bike won't fall apart on me