Step By Step Threadless Headset How To Bearing Maintenance Tutorial Bike Blogger

Complete step by step how to tutorial on threadless headset bicycle maintenance.

Tools required: 4mm and 5mm allen keys, grease and a rag.

1. Remove front wheel from the bicycle fork.
2. Remove front brake caliper from the fork. Careful not to drop any washers. You could skip this step if desired.
3. Remove headset top cap. Remember the order in which you remove each piece of the headset, and the orientation.
4. Remove headset spacers (if any).
5. Loosen the stem bolts a little bit and pull the stem off the fork while holding the bottom of the fork to prevent it from dropping out. You could use an elastic band to hold it in place temporarily.
6. Remove headset spacers (if any).
7. Push fork out, use rubber mallet to shock it free if needed, watch for loose ball bearings that may fall out (not applicable to cartridge bearings).
8. Remove bottom bearing and any seals (washers) from bottom of the frame headtube and fork. Use a flat head screwdriver to gently pry out the bearing if required.
9. Remove top bearing cover, compression ring, adjustable race, any seals (washers), and top bearing from top of the frame headtube. Use a flat head screwdriver to gently pry out the bearing if required.
10. Clean fork, clean headtube races (headset cups), clean the headset bearings and parts. Use a clean rag and/or a degreaser or solvant with a toothbrush. See Note 1 and Note 2 below.
11. Grease the top headtube race.
12. Grease the bottom headtube race.
13. Grease the top bearing and drop it into the top of the headtube, orient it the way it was before you removed it (rounded bearing edge should face inward toward the frame and fit perfect). See Note 3 below.
14. Grease the bottom bearing and insert it into the bottom of the headtube. Drop the bottom bearing seal/s onto the fork, if any. See Note 3 below.
15. Reinstall the fork back through the headtube while making sure the cables are all oriented they way you want them. You could use an elastic band to hold it in place temporarily.
16. Reinstall the top bearing seal/s, adjustable race, compression ring, and top bearing cover.
17. Wipe off excess grease.
18. Reinstall headset spacers (if any).
19. Put the stem back on, but don't tighten the bolts all the way yet.
20. Reinstall headset spacers (if any).
21. Reinstall headset top cap, loosely tighten the bolt.
22. Reinstall the front brake caliper if you removed it earlier.
23. Reinstall front wheel.
24. Adjust the front brake if necessary.
25. Place the bike on the ground and staighten the front wheel with the handlebars.
26. Tighten the stem bolts.
27. Squeeze the front brake and rock the bike back and forth. Bounce the bike by lifting the front wheel off the ground. Turn the handlebars. If you feel any play or noise in the headset, or grinding when steering, follow the remaining steps.
28. If you noticed any play or noise when bouncing the bike, loosen the stem bolts, tighten the headset top cap bolt more, then retighten the stem bolts. Check again.
29. If you felt the headset grinding when steering the handlebars, loosen the stem bolts, loosen the headset top cap bolt more, then retighten the stem bolts. Check again.
30. Done. If you are still have headset issues described in Step 28 or Step 29, keep fine tuning it. If you still have problems see Note 6 below.

Notes and extra tips available in my full blog post on my website here
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Video - How To Install Threadless Stem, Cables, Bullhorn Handlebars Bike Blogger
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