[Element]

I did a search and tried to find this info before I asked, but I'm not sure if it's the same problem that I looked at. The bike is a 2 year old Specialized Rockhopper A1 Pro. It's been ridden hard, but not abused. Big trail jumps, little drop-offs, lots of roots, but not much of anything else. Here's the problem:

My headset is really loose around the bottom of my steerer tube and is creaking really bad. The nut on top is tight and I tried to loosen it and push everything back together - didn't work. The only thing I can think of is that my headset has crapped out on me.


Please help

***I forgot to mention that I don't have a lot of money to spend right now, so a cheap fix would really rock.


Thanks

 

[Orvan]

from your description you may have ovalized your headtube..
The frame is strong but definitely not a jumper at that..

try this, remove the fork from the frame....if you can pull the bottom HS cup with your hands/fingers, it's a good indication that you hacve ovalized your headtube and now have a very expensive lawn ornament of a frame... hope it's just a loose headset you can press back in but I doubt it is..
good luck
Oz

 

[Element]

Thanks man. You're about to make me cry I hope it's not the head tube, because I damn sure can't afford another bike right now. I'll be pimpin my neice's tricycle on the trails if my head tube is broken.

 

[BikeGeek]

Depending on the extent of the ovalization, you may be able to salvage it by getting a headset cup with a longer insert, like the Chris King Steelset. It's $150 though.

What kind of headset do you have in there now? If you're lucky enough to have a Chris King, they can hook you up with an oversized bottom cup. Again, it depends on the severity of the ovalization. Mine was fixable with a +0.004 headset cup, and a reaming/facing. It cost me $12 for the cup, $15 for the ream/face, and I was riding in a week.

 

[BikeGeek]

Almost forgot, my frame is steel. I don't know if I would try to salvage an ovalized aluminium frame.

 

[Element]

It's the stock headset. I think it's a Specialized "Aheadset"

 

[BikeGeek]

I hope it's not ovalized. Before I found out about the King fix, all the shops I took my bike to told me to start saving for another frame.

I assume that you loosened the bolts on the stem when you were tightening the top nut? It's a common mistake when adjustments are being made to the headset.

If it's not ovalized, and the adjustments were made correctly, check your bearings. If the headset doesn't have sealed bearings, stuff could have gotten in and worn flat spots on the BBs.

 

[Element]

I'll go check here in a minute. Maybe this will give me an excuse to buy a Kona - on credit, of course

 

[Rustmouse]

Santa Cruz is nice now, too....

(proud Bullit owner)

 

[Element]

Well, I found ot last night that my headset is trashed. I'm happy and sad at the same time. I kind of wanted a reason to buy a new bike. I found a Santa Cruz Heckler frame that is a reasonable price. Now, all I have to do is sell my HK USP and I'll be able to get it. I've got a hard on for a new bike so bad