Triban 3a - Rusting Forks/Headset

[dhd.evans]

My Triban 3a (white model, 2013) is having some issues with steering - i've noticed some rust coming out under the headset and down the forks and steering is much tighter and stiffer. My guess is after 3 years or aggressive riding the bearings have finally turned to mush.

I'm going to strip it (wish me luck) but before i do that at the weekend does anyone have any experience doing this job and info on what sized bearings i'm likely to have to buy to replace the worn out ones?

 

[Deleted member 35268]

If you rode in the wet, which is perfectly normal, then yes, three years sounds exactly right for this kind of issue. Happened the same on my Giant.

 

[MiK1138]

Same here but i let my trusty LBS fix it for me as i am useless with a screwhammer???

 

[Yellow Saddle]

My Triban 3a (white model, 2013) is having some issues with steering - i've noticed some rust coming out under the headset and down the forks and steering is much tighter and stiffer. My guess is after 3 years or aggressive riding the bearings have finally turned to mush.

I'm going to strip it (wish me luck) but before i do that at the weekend does anyone have any experience doing this job and info on what sized bearings i'm likely to have to buy to replace the worn out ones?

Don't fool yourself that your riding it so aggressive that it rusted the headset. It is riding in the rain without mudguards that causes rusty headsets, nothing else. Had you just taken a couple of trips to church in your Sunday best without even breaking a sweat, the same would have happened.

Too much gonzo riding here being blamed for a chemical reaction in iron.

 

[nickyboy]

I have almost zero fettling skills but even I managed to replace my headset bearings recently. There are some perfectly good youtube videos to help. The only problem I had was that one of the bearings wasn't stamped with the size so I took it to the LBS and they sold me a comparable one

 

[dhd.evans]

Something in the region of 8500mi on the clock, lack of mudguards for most of it. I'll be releasing the thing on Saturday but wondered if anyone had had experience with different sized bearings.

 

[gbb]

Dont assume you HAVE to replace the bearings though.
I had a similar experience on a Raleigh Chimera, rust staining emanating from the headset, once stripped the assembly was stiff and rusty. Cleaned it out and freed it up with WD, cleaned and dried out, lathered with grease and refit.
I was still riding it a few years later...no issues whatsoever.