It really could go either way.
Recently got my forks back from their holiday chez loco and refitting them. (32 120's tapered steerer)
It would appear I now have too options. Fit as normal and have little 'clunk' when I brake. Small but there and consistent. Or loosen the side screws on the headset, wind the top cap screw further into the top (and way tighter than would normally) and have no clunk but sticky steering. There does not, on a medium length acquaintance appear to be a happy medium.
Hope headset btw.
So is this the beginning of the end or am I just crap with spanners?
Suggestions and mild flaming expected...
It sounds like one of your headset components is binding under tightening. Take everything apart again. Make sure you have the crown race on and the right way round. ( I see a lot of these missing or wrongly fitted) check both sets of headset cups are freely moving and not too graunchy. Refit everything with a little dollop of grease and see if it happens again. If your unsure how the headset parts are refitted go to hopes tech drawing page.
Good luck
...side screws on the headset...
Eh?
I think he means the stem bolts.
+1 stumpy
Check the bearing are seated in the cups properly. Don't forget to grease and spacers/washers. Also check that the crown race split hasn't opened up too much when refitting as this will cause it not to sit correctly.
The hope headset has a number of shims that sit between the top taper and the seal. With these, you can vary seal drag and headset feel. Have you got all these back in place? Other thing to consider, are the bearings smooth and greased? Could be dry and binding if left unused for a while.
or i'm a crap mechanic.
the side screws on the headset
Fair one. I meant stem bolt. 🙂
Ok, sounds like another go is in order. Pot of grease at the ready. Thanks chaps
Definetly don't wind in the headset bolt more, bearings only need a little preload to take out any play, if your doing it too tight in the first instance you will just prematurely wear out the bearings.
missing a spacer on the steerer ?
Shim missing or that chamfered ring that sits in the top.
Are the headset caps in straight n snug?
Depending on the style of headset, you might need a micro shim / spacer in between the compression ring thing and the top cover. The cover can bind against the frame / cup below depending on tolerances.
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Following stumpy's advice found this on the Hope site which is pretty clear.
Will be having another go armed with this...
[url] http://www.hopetech.com/webtop/modules/_repository/documents/HOPEHEADSETS2011Web.pdf [/url]