[Robusto]

Ok, so I went out riding today and my headset was feeling kind of blegh... so I got home tonight and decided to clean it out, regrease it, etc. I took out the bearings and completely cleaned them, cleaned every other part out. The top and bottom parts of the headset had little rubber seals (I guess they are seals) on them, so I put some grease inbetween the caps and the rubber seals, and then on the rubber seals as well. I then applied some grease to the bearings, and put the bearings for the bottom cap on the bottom cap, and slid that assembly onto the steer tube, and slid it into the headset cups so that it was flush. I then did the same exact thing for the top. After getting my crown, spacers, and stem/bars on, I went to turn the bars, and the headset felt incredibly stiff. I tore it all down again... so how do I put it back together correctly? Maybe the grease I used was too thick? I used OMC Triple Guard Grease "Totally Waterproof, will not wash out" hoping that the grease will keep the Snowshoe Mud out of my headset... maybe it was a bad idea.

 

[Mudpuppy]

Well, if you think it is together right don't tighten it down so much. The top cap is only supposed to be tight enough that there isn't play in the bearing. Tighten it untill the fork is a little hard to turn then back it off 'till it feels right. The stem is what actually holds everything together. Crank the stem bolts down, not the topcap bolt.

 

[Robusto]

Ok, Ill try it again... is it possible though that the grease I am using is to thick to be used on the bearings?

 

[Polandspring88]

What kind of headset is it? If it is something along the lines of an FSA Pig with ball bearings instead of cartridge bearings you probably put the bearing carrier in upside down. I have done that a few times before and the steering becomes incredibly stiff. Flip them over if that is the case and go from there.

 

[Mudpuppy]

Ok, Ill try it again... is it possible though that the grease I am using is to thick to be used on the bearings?

It is unlikely that the grease is too thick. Unless it has the consistancy of cold butter it should be fine.

 

[Robusto]

K I found out what was wrong, the seal on the bottom cup wasnt seated properly, so now its working great, better than before.

One more thing though, after I got my bars back on, and my brakes back on, it now feels like there is more hydraulic fluid in my front brake; I only have to pull about half as much as I did before to get my brakes to engage the disc... is something wrong here? Thanks for all the help. By the way the brakes are Hayes 9s, if that helps any...

 

[Robusto]

What kind of headset is it? If it is something along the lines of an FSA Pig with ball bearings instead of cartridge bearings you probably put the bearing carrier in upside down. I have done that a few times before and the steering becomes incredibly stiff. Flip them over if that is the case and go from there.

Yeah I think I might have put one of the bearing carrier things in upside down also, but I got it worked out now, thanks for the help!