Loose but seized headset

Will I d… forget it.

Anyway 😁   My headset is a bit loose – the fork steerer moves slightly in the headtube, rocks back and forth by a small amount, can feel it more than see it. Probably 1mm or so of movement but it’s noticeable and annoying, plus it makes clicking/cracking noises when riding along over bumpy ground.

The trouble is that it seems to have seized onto the steerer, as tightening it doesn’t do anything (yes, I loosened the stem!). I can’t remove the forks either.

So:

1. Is there an easy way to loosen it up (ie, unstick it then tighten it) without destroying it?
2. If I keep riding, am I likely to do any serious damage?

It’s an integrated headset. This one: https://production-privee.com/products/headset

No one here can say with any certainty if it’ll be OK or not.

You know the answer. Get it sorted. Your dentist/face reconstruction bill could be more than the cost of getting it fixed. When stuff at the front fails in use,  it rarely ends well. Stuff at the back, more chance of getting away with it.

Ok, but a catastrophic failure like that seems unlikely. I’m more worried about it damaging the frame or fork, and this:

Get it sorted.

Is exactly what I’m trying to do by asking for advice on here! I prefer to do my own work where possible.

It could be that you need another spacer under the stem – if the top cap is bottoming on the top of the steerer, you’ll never get it preloaded correctly.

It’s also possible that the tapered collar is missing or not fitted properly – has it been disassembled recently?

I would recommend carefully dismantling it, taking a photo at every step and checking that it’s correctly assembled. You should be able to post the photos on here to get advice if you aren’t sure what you’re looking for.

You need to strip it down and see what’s actually going on with it. It doesn’t take long to whip off the handlebars and stem as a unit and have a proper look at things. Next step is to take disconnect the brake caliper and hose from the fork and take it off – rubber mallet used sanely if it sticks – then you can see if the bearings are okay and/or anything’s seized or jammed. As above, if the headset top cap can’t preload the headset then that’s potentially your issue.

If it’s all okay/salvageable  then clean it up, lubricate sparingly and reassemble. If you’re not sure what you’re doing, the Park Tool website is a good resource for basic mechanical procedures and it’s not a massively difficult job unless your bearings separate when you’re popping them out.

Riding with a loose headset is going to kill the bearings, but until you take it all apart, there’s no way of telling for sure what’s happening.

Check the bung isn’t slipping if it has one.
Or replace the whole thing. I spent about 2 years resurrecting a headset that was knackered. New one goes in and it feels ace. Treat yourself!

If it’s a carbon frame it could be the aluminium sleeves that are bonded to the frame which have become loose 😳

Nah, riding with a loose headset isn’t acceptable, you’re just goosing your bike.

Stem, spacer’s and top cap off, either soft faced mallet or wooden block and hammer, bang down on top of steerer to drop it out (there’s probably a wedge/retainer type ring holding onto the steerer, you might.need a bit of force). Once the fork is out you’ll be able to get at the bearings and figure out what sort they are (caged or cartridge) and just how knackered they are now.

My advice is to replace the bearings irrespective of what you find, clunking about in them will not have improved things… 

Alternatively (probably the wiser choice from the sound of things) go to a shop and pay someone who knows what they’re doing…

tightening it doesn’t do anything

As someone who’s not the most skilled/confident mechanic I’ll put my hand up and own up to being caught out by pads moving in the caliper and a loose Centerlock rotor; I believe that worn fork bushings can also cause a loose/knocking sensation.

It may very well be your headset but it might be worth eliminating other possibilities.