Hey guys, I replaced the stem on my bike and now the steering feels slightly rough, or just not silky smooth. Bike is only a couple months old. What's the problem? Too tight, too loose? I've tried adjusting that but to no avail. Thanks!
Originally Posted by p38lightning .
Before you replace the headset go down to your local shop and by some loose balls the same size as the caged balls in your headset. Be sure to get a greater number than in the caged ball retainers. Grease up your cups and stick in the balls leaving space for at least 1 ball, re-assemble and adjust as the others have suggested. Might fix it.
Are you talking about rubbing graphite on the face of the stem and then pressing it against the paper to leave an impression. If it is oblong, the stem needs faced and if it is round, the stem is OK?Originally Posted by alfeng .
FWIW. I had a problem adjusting ONE headset which I found perplexing ...
It turns out that the "bottom" contact surface of the STEM I had chosen needed to be faced ...
- I was flipping the particular stem over to lower the handlebars by whatever fraction of an inch doing so did ... the "top" contact surface ([COLOR= #808080]which had been on the bottom, before[/COLOR]) was "okay"
So, presuming the bearings are still "okay" on your headset, try putting your old stem on the bike ... if you can adjust the headset, then your stem may also need to be faced.
A good FLAT FILE and some patience will remedy a stem whose lower contact surface is not square ...
[COLOR= #0000cd]BTW. You can use a piece of notebook paper to check whether-or-not the stem is square.[/COLOR]
What you are suggesting might work, but it is too subtle for me ...Originally Posted by kdelong .
Are you talking about rubbing graphite on the face of the stem and then pressing it against the paper to leave an impression. If it is oblong, the stem needs faced and if it is round, the stem is OK?
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