Headset Q

[Rjh]

Hi - I took my (brand new) bike to the LBS for a service
[1], and they seem to have lubricated the headset (good) but
at the same time stretched the seal things (not so good?).

It does seem to me that this was not the way to do it -
surely water and stuff will get in?

Any advice appreciated.

Rob

[1] the bike was new from the insurance company, mail order.
The LBS strongly recommended the service - along with
one new wheel and unbuckling the other - £70 spent on a
brand new £400 bike. I'm in correspondence with the
supplier ;-).

I've put photos (about 20kb) here:

http://tinyurl.com/2zpkz http://tinyurl.com/2bftq

[Pete Biggs]

RJH wrote:
> Hi - I took my (brand new) bike to the LBS for a
> service [1], and they seem to have lubricated the
> headset (good) but at the same time stretched the seal
> things (not so good?).
>
> It does seem to me that this was not the way to do it -
> surely water and stuff will get in?
>
> I've put photos (about 20kb) here:
> http://tinyurl.com/2zpkz http://tinyurl.com/2bftq

I'm not familiar with your model of headset but I wouldn't
worry toooo much about water and stuff getting in. Some
headsets don't have seals at all and they can provide good
service if well maintained. Note that seals are less
important for the /upper/ bearings because they take a
lighter load and dirty water from wheel doesn't get flicked
all the way up there.

Are you quite sure the seal is stretched? Did you ever see
it before hand? I'm just wondering if it could be in the
wrong place or always was a bit 'baggy'.

I'm puzzled by that top bit that is loose -- presumably
that's just for the pic to show us the seal, but I can't do
that with mine! What make & model is it?

Sorry my reply isn't very good but I thought it was better
than nothing since no-one else has replied.

~PB