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hi,
first post here and hopefully someone can help with a bit of an urgent problem. thanks in advance for any help you can give.
my bike is a rather old (1996) cannondale f400 comp. the only original thing left is the frame as i have carried out loads of upgrades over the years.
[img][url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8177/8019078759_805ff9b5e0.jp g" target="_blank">
anyways, i've not touched the bike in a while due to an injury but looking to get back out on it this weekend as part of my mates stag weekend. the big issue is that i have something i need to get fixed before i can use it...
there is a bit of movement around the headset/spacers at the top of the shocks. the last time i got the headset replaced it was at a bikeshop years ago so not sure what i will need to get to fix this.
the bike has a large reducer/spacer which is very similar to this one below. there is an additional couple of bearing cups which slot in the bottom. again similar to the below. the bearings are some open cage type ones which were replaced not that long ago.
[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8435/8019081668_252a19d610.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/71379609@N05/8019081668/ ]headset_spacer_cup[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/71379609@N05/ ]Paul_McCaughey[/url], on Flickr
i had it all apart last year and re-greased and tightened everything up but it's not helped as there is still movement. it's still rideable but i am conscious of the movement and really want to get it fixed, ideally before Friday.
so can anyone offer advice on the headset and other parts i need to resolve this? the forks are rock shock with 1-1/8" steerer tube.
thanks
It sounds like a standard 1 1/8" headset fitted inside reducer cups.
Have you tried loosening the stem/steerer bolts, making sure teh stem will move while holding the wheel straight and then nipping up the steerer bolt (the one at the top). (i hope i dont come over patronising but im not sure of your experience with bike fettling?)
If you have tried tightening up the headset as above and its not that, is there any movement between the frame and the cups which are directly inserted into the frame?
I suspect that your headset just needs nipping up though
hi,
i have tried loosening and re-tightening the star nut but not had any success in getting it tighter. the movement looks/feels like it's the bottom of the cups. the cup into the frame is tight.
when i had it apart nothing looked overly worn but it might not have been noticeable.
the large spacer has been on it since i got it but the other bits have been replaced over time. wondering if it's time to get the large spacer replaced and the other additional headset parts. problem is i just don't know what to look for. i suspect the large spacer cup will be hard to replace.
If the large spacer (the reducer cup is tight it shouldn't be a problem. If the movement is here then it sounds like your headtube is ovalised (but i suspect not as this would just creak.
Just confirm two things
Is the headset pressed into the reducer cup at the bottom. I'm a bit lost over your mention of a spacer. all you should have down there is the headtube, the reducer cup and the lower headset assembly. There shouldn't be any other spacers.
Also, when you tighten the top bolt, you are loosening the stem off the steerer first aren't you? If not then tightening will do nothing.
Bland - The large spacer looks like it is there to convert from a headshok fork to a standard? Which doesnt fit with the top picture admittedly
sorry i am probably mixing names around. yip, when i last looked at it the stem was loose and i was purely tightening the star nut.
the pictures are slightly confusing, i've never found an f400 comp picture just an f400 picture. the shocks that i got it with were the original ones from what i can gather although these could have been an upgrade from a headshock. either way it's had the large spacer fitted through the 3 or 4 shocks i've had on it.
will look at it in more detail tonight and will get some more pictures of it.
thanks