"Pete Biggs" <pLime{remove_fruit}@biggs.tc> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> tony R wrote:
> > Thanks Pete, there are no washers/spacers fitted at all. Perhaps I should try adding one
> > although I can't quite picture how this would help - it'd reduce the amount of thread left for
> > the locknut wouldn't it?
>
> Yes and that's the deliberate idea, but it's only necessary IF the locknut is not threaded all the
> way to the top or has some kind of shoulder (not all are like this) AND the locknut can be turned
> so much that it runs out of thread before it's actually locked. It still may /feel/ tight just
> because there's no thread left.
This could be the problem. The locknut is not threaded to the top and it has a shoulder/lip. I
hadn't thought it was running out of thread when I tightened it but I suppose the symptoms suggest
it may be. Although when it's tightened (without hanger) there's still a gap of 1-2mm. between the
top of the steerer and the lip of the nut. Would this not indicate it hadn't run out of thread?
> Having no washers at all worries me. A washer or hanger will (also) help the locknut grip
> and lock.
Yes, when I put the hanger back the locknut has a "grippier" feel.
> > I'm already having to bodge the front brake cable hanger on to the stem because I'd assumed
> > there wasn't enough space below the locknut (with the hanger below the locknut I could only
> > tighten the locknut 1-2 turns).
>
> Doesn't seem normal or enough, but I'm not sure what the minimum safe number of turns would be.
That's what I thought. Hence the bodge.
> A washer thinner than the hanger could be used which would allow the locknut to be turned more -
> but not quite as much as without the hanger.
I think I might try this out. The old headset had a washer that can be reused.
> How many turns does it go round now (without the hanger)? Note. Some locknuts only have 5 turns at
> maximum.
Without the hanger it goes 4.5 turns (steerer/lip gap c.1-2mm); with the hanger only 1 turn
(steerer/lip gap c. 4-5 mm.).
> In any case, using a locknut from a different headset and/or a thin washer might make it all
> work better.
I still have the old locknut. It seems to be threaded right to the top with no lip as such, just a
sort of ridge to which a rubber seal is attached. There's no reason not to mix 'n' match locknuts
is there? Ideally, of course, I'd like to be able to get the hanger back in but 1 turn of the
locknut doesn't seem enough (unless anybody knows different). So, I'll leave the hanger out, try
the old locknut, add a thin washer, accept any more advice and see how it goes. Thanks to all for
the help, tony R.
