What the hell is wrong!?

[Cameo]

Ok, heres the deal. Before i got a new set of bars and stem, my front end was making a really strange sound when i was picking it up a few cm's from the ground and letting it drop, a sorta vibrating, weird noise.

So, i ask some friends what the hell is it (at the time im thinking its my dirt jams) but they say its my headset that's loose. Ok no biggie just tighten it, so then comes tonight (putting new bar and stem on...)

Take the old ones off, put new ones in, put 'em down as close as I can to the headset (I have one spacer that I used to run, buit with that on my new stem it makes it really high), and then bolt it all up nice and securly (sp?) and then i lift it up slightly and I still hear the same BLOODY F**KING NOISE!!!! Theres slight movement coming from the bottom of the headset (where it connects with the crown) so i'm thinking, do i have a bent steerer??? Flared headtube??? Busted headset???

Please help guys, it making me really fustrated and impatient, and both of those I dont like. I'll drop the bike in at my LBS on Sunday and ask 'em to check it out.

Thanks,
Cam

PS: If you wanted to know what headset i'm running, it's a 'Aheadset' with a 'Mallet' bottom cup? Dirt-Jam comps, and Azonic Shoty stem, and Azonic double wall bars. Thats only if that info is nessecary in fixing my bike.

Thanks again.

[Captain Blake]

Might also be your hub.

Tighten the hub and then re try that test of yours.

Just a matter of trial and error.

Loose steerer is also an option.

[Squidly Didly]

Sounds more like a busted headset (assuming you're tightening the thing properly).
There's a good possibilty that the headset is already damaged from maybe being ridden whilest lose. Lets hope it's the headset, and not an ovalised head-tube.
Good idea taking it to the lbs. The above is only one of the many things that could be wrong.
Theres slight movement coming from the bottom of the headset (where it connects with the crown)
This could also possibly mean a lose steerer tube in the fork crown!

[Daver]

It could be anything, from hub, to bushings, to steerer, to crown, to headset, to frame.

[sawtell]

It could be anything, from hub, to bushings, to steerer, to crown, to headset, to frame.

to the norco badge... ;)

i am going with stuffed headset, you would be able to feel a loose steerer, and you said there is movement when the noise is made, ruleing out the hub to me...



go to ya bike store..!

[dhd]

Start at the bottom and work your way up eliminating things one at a time. Main culprits probably are:
1: Front wheel.....any movement side to side will indicate bearing play.
2: Fork bushes. feel around the seal for movement as you hold the front brake in and gently rock the bike forward/backward
3: Headset...feel around the lower and top race for movement as you hold the front brake in and gently rock the bike forward/backward

[Cameo]

Start at the bottom and work your way up eliminating things one at a time. Main culprits probably are:
1: Front wheel.....any movement side to side will indicate bearing play.
2: Fork bushes. feel around the seal for movement as you hold the front brake in and gently rock the bike forward/backward
3: Headset...feel around the lower and top race for movement as you hold the front brake in and gently rock the bike forward/backward

There's definetly movement when i rock the bike forwards and back...

dought theres anything wrong with the hub.

[Grip]

Theres slight movement coming from the bottom of the headset (where it connects with the crown)



I'm puting $5 down on it being slightly ovalized headtube and stretched lower bearing cage in the headset.

Along the lines of what DHD said... tighten everything PROPERLY... stand on left side of bike...hold front brake on with left hand...wrap right hand around the area of lower headset and bottom of headtube...rock bike back and forward gently... use the "force" and "feel" where the movement is coming from. Do the same at the TOP of the frame's headtube too. If the play is there you should feel very definite movement between the components... make sure it's not just knocking being transferred up from lower down the forks/wheels... that's why I said rock GENTLY

[marty]

you may need to shave a little more off the top of the steerer.

[MUGEN]

You DO know that you do up the top cap bolt (do not overdo, just enough so you dont feel any movement between the race and the bearings) before you do up the stem bolts dont you?