Improper threaded headset question

[[email protected]]

I just took a maiden ride on a bike I built. Has anyone ever felt the
centrifugal force from the front wheel thru to their handlebars? It
this a headset issue? When cruising along at about 18mph, it is
difficult to ride a straight line because the centrifugal force from
the front wheel
steers the bike. I have never felt this from my other bikes. The front
wheel is true and professionally built. Advice from the group is
apreciated. I am going to replace the threaded headset with a
better/new model. The frame and fork are an Italian match set from 1984
in excellent condition. The front hub is a Real Design model 32h with
Mavic cxp33 rims.

 

[Leo Lichtman]

<[email protected]> wrote: (clip) When cruising along at about 18mph,
it is difficult to ride a straight line because the centrifugal force from
the front wheel steers the bike. (clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I'm SURE that's not what's causing it. Centrifugal force does not play a
roll in steering. Are you sure the fork is not in backwards?

 

[Zog The Undeniable]

[email protected] wrote:
> I just took a maiden ride on a bike I built. Has anyone ever felt the
> centrifugal force from the front wheel thru to their handlebars? It
> this a headset issue? When cruising along at about 18mph, it is
> difficult to ride a straight line because the centrifugal force from
> the front wheel
> steers the bike. I have never felt this from my other bikes. The front
> wheel is true and professionally built. Advice from the group is
> apreciated. I am going to replace the threaded headset with a
> better/new model. The frame and fork are an Italian match set from 1984
> in excellent condition. The front hub is a Real Design model 32h with
> Mavic cxp33 rims.
>
Sounds more like you have a notchy and/or tight headset which has a
tendency to self-centre because of the pits in the race. I would
recommend a Stronglight replacement as they seem to be immune from this.

 

[philcycles]

[email protected] wrote:
> I just took a maiden ride on a bike I built. Has anyone ever felt
the
> centrifugal force from the front wheel thru to their handlebars? It
> this a headset issue? When cruising along at about 18mph, it is
> difficult to ride a straight line because the centrifugal force from
> the front wheel
> steers the bike. I have never felt this from my other bikes. The
front
> wheel is true and professionally built. Advice from the group is
> apreciated. I am going to replace the threaded headset with a
> better/new model. The frame and fork are an Italian match set from
1984
> in excellent condition. The front hub is a Real Design model 32h with
> Mavic cxp33 rims.

It's too tight. What you're experiencing is called a Dutch roll.
Phil Brown

 

[[email protected]]

I agree with Zog. You likely have a too tight headset, or a notch in
it. The wheel will tend to lock at a spot. To check this, lift the
front wheel and move the bar from side to side very gently. You may
feel that the wheel hesitates/locks at a spot, usually when the wheel
is pointing straight forward. If so, you may need to readjust the
headset so that the bar/wheel will move freely from side to side.
However, you should not loosen the headset so much that it has play. If
the headset keeps locking, or otherwise, it is too loose, it means that
it is pitted. In othe words, the bbs have indented one of the races in
your headset. You'll need a new headset. Otherwise, you can ride with
the headset slightly overtightened and never say "look ma, no hands!"


Zog The Undeniable wrote:
> [email protected] wrote:
> > I just took a maiden ride on a bike I built. Has anyone ever felt
the
> > centrifugal force from the front wheel thru to their handlebars? It
> > this a headset issue? When cruising along at about 18mph, it is
> > difficult to ride a straight line because the centrifugal force
from
> > the front wheel
> > steers the bike. I have never felt this from my other bikes. The
front
> > wheel is true and professionally built. Advice from the group is
> > apreciated. I am going to replace the threaded headset with a
> > better/new model. The frame and fork are an Italian match set from
1984
> > in excellent condition. The front hub is a Real Design model 32h
with
> > Mavic cxp33 rims.
> >
> Sounds more like you have a notchy and/or tight headset which has a
> tendency to self-centre because of the pits in the race. I would
> recommend a Stronglight replacement as they seem to be immune from
this.

 

[41]

[email protected] wrote:
> I just took a maiden ride on a bike I built. Has anyone ever felt
the
> centrifugal force from the front wheel thru to their handlebars? It
> this a headset issue? When cruising along at about 18mph, it is
> difficult to ride a straight line because the centrifugal force from
> the front wheel
> steers the bike. I have never felt this from my other bikes. The
front
> wheel is true and professionally built. Advice from the group is
> apreciated. I am going to replace the threaded headset with a
> better/new model.

You are describing front wheel shimmy: look in the FAQ under "shimmy".
It has nothing to do with the headset. You stop it by resting a thigh
on the top tube or unweighting the saddle.

 

[Donald Gillies]

If the headset is a very classic headset (such as campagnolo nuovo
record) in good condition, you might try "lapping" the headset to
remove the pitting.

This means getting some grade 25 bearings and some abrasive compounds
(i.e. automotive rubbing compound), then building and packing the
headset with abrasives and disposible bearings, heavily tighten the
headset and then work the fork side-side with your hands for 15-60
mins, and then redoing it a second time with new bearings and lighter
abrasives (maybe tooth paste). then finally open and clean the
headset and put in a 3rd set of grade 25 bearings without a ball
bearing retainer, i.e. 1 extra ball, to help eradicate the notching in
your headset.

Has anybody done this ?? I've only heard it described - i've never
talked to someone with experience in this procedure.

- Don Gillies
San Diego, CA

 

[Bill Sornson]

[email protected] wrote:
> I just took a maiden ride on a bike I built. Has anyone ever felt the
> centrifugal force from the front wheel thru to their handlebars? It
> this a headset issue? When cruising along at about 18mph, it is
> difficult to ride a straight line because the centrifugal force from
> the front wheel
> steers the bike. I have never felt this from my other bikes. The front
> wheel is true and professionally built. Advice from the group is
> apreciated. I am going to replace the threaded headset with a
> better/new model. The frame and fork are an Italian match set from
> 1984 in excellent condition. The front hub is a Real Design model 32h
> with Mavic cxp33 rims.


Your question isn't improper at all.

 

[Scott]

If the wheel seemed to 'center' itself and click into place, I'd agree
that it's probably a pitted headset. But, you're describing a wheel
that pulls to one side, apparently quite strongly.

I've experienced it before, but only when riding no-handed. If it
pulls even while riding w/ your hands on the bars, it must be truly and
seriously out of whack. It's probably an out-of-alignment fork causing
the problem. Could be just the fork tips, or maybe the entire blades
are out of alignment. If it's a steel fork, it's easy to fix. If it's
carbon, it's easy to replace.