So I’ve taken apart my headset because it was a bit gritty, cleaned it, greased it and put it back together but it’s till not smooth! Any ideas?

Did it come with a crown race? Lack of one may cause smoothness problems
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*wonders if that thread is four years old yet*

did you fully open the bearings and flush them out with something like IPA then pack them with grease?

With rubber shielded bearings (like in headsets) I’ve found it’s pretty much impossible to overpack them as the shields push any excess out.

Crown race is definitely there. No I didn’t fully flush out the bearings. Might have another go at that tomorrow.

to get a bearing really clean i’d suggest white spirit and then a blast with compressed air, before repacking with grease, any grease will do, a lighter is better, heavy axle type grease ok, general bike grease is fine.

I’ve taken the bearings apart, degreased thoroughly, and packed it together again with grease. It still grinds like a dog when I turn the bars. Think I must have damaged something.

😆 Enjoyed your title, made me dribble some tea. Bang on trend.

Is this a set of caged bearings? Fair chance the race is brindled.

Scotroutes – yes it is. What do you mean by saying brindled?

Brindled means worn out – with a dent worn by each bearing – giving indexed steering.

Roughness is generally more likely – pitting and corrosion.

Brinelling

I’d replace the headset with a new one. It’ll be like new then

I’d replace the headset with a new one. It’ll be like new then

Fantastic! 🙂 STW generic reply in a nutshell