Road Bike Play In Headset
It might not be the sexiest component in the world but it does a vital job.
Road bike play in headset. 4 5 and 6mm would be a good place. Like all bearing systems those that hold the fork steerer securely now typically. Our bike headset guide includes a wealth of information on bicycle headset including headset standards maintenance and repairs different headset types and more. If you regularly ride in wet weather cleaning and regreasing your headset is a maintenance job that you ll.
The headset is one of three main bearings on the bike alongside those in the bottom bracket and the wheels. Often especially on new bicycles one of the headset parts shifted during the first rides and created the play. Different bikes come with different headsets so a selection of common types are displayed below. If you have a bike bought in the last 10 years or so your headset should be this type.
When it s working as it should you probably won t notice your headset too much but you will become conscious of it if it needs regreasing or starts to wear out because your steering will begin to suffer. The other two types enable the housing of the bearings within the head tube the two being different in the sense that the integrated standard doesn t use cups at all therefore requiring a specially designed frame. But the tolerance of the headset parts is such that you can t remove the play by only tightening the bolt. Headset sizing and standards the external cups are called this way for the simple reason that the bearings are situated outside the bike s headtube respectively at its ends.
We ve put together this simple video guide to show you how to service the headset on such a bike. We couldn t have expected this simple method of pre loading headset bearings to change the way we attach forks to frames forever but it did. With the bike on the ground loosen the stem clamp bolts a few. Depending on your bike the tools that you ll need for this job will vary but it s always good to have a torque wrench and a selection of allen keys to hand.
The headset is the bearing assembly that fits to a bike s head tube and allows the fork and front wheel to turn. We ll start by adjusting a loose headset.