newbie q: how to tighten threadless headset

Pull the cap off. There may be a bolt under the cap.
This device is installed instead of a star nut.

ln0 said:

Hi all, question from a newbie at bike maintenance:
The headset on my mountain bike has recently gotten somewhat loose and
I want to tighten it.... Now
the book states that one simply loosens the two horizontal bolts that
clamp the stem, and tighten the top cap nut with an allen key. Problem
is, my headset has no nut on the top cap. The top is just a flat
plastic cap that doesn't seem to come off even when I remove the
horizontal stem bolts. So, my question is how do I tighten my headset?

I had a bike supplied like that as well.The easiest thing to do is to go
and buy a 'star washer and cap', just like these here:
1 of these:
http://www.totalbike.com/products/Headsets/B0006JHSFA/
and 1 of these:
http://www.totalbike.com/products/Headsets/B0007V8WES/

Your local bike shop will probably have them as a set, for less than 5usd.
In the meantime to tighten it, sit astride the bike,with the front wheel
pushed straight onto a wall,loosen the 2 stem bolts, then push down on the
stem, and tigten the bolts.Check to see if it is better.It may take a few
attempts to get it right.
Far easier to adjust with the star washer fiited to the fork.
Alan.

--
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http://www.dvatc.co.uk - Off-road cycling in the North Midlands.

ln0 said:

Hi all, question from a newbie at bike maintenance:
The headset on my mountain bike has recently gotten somewhat loose and
I want to tighten it. Referring to a bike maintenance for dummies type
book I have, I gather that my stem is of the threadless variety. Now
the book states that one simply loosens the two horizontal bolts that
clamp the stem, and tighten the top cap nut with an allen key. Problem
is, my headset has no nut on the top cap. The top is just a flat
plastic cap that doesn't seem to come off even when I remove the
horizontal stem bolts. So, my question is how do I tighten my headset?

Thanks in advance.

P.S: Seeing as how I'm new to this, I'm slightly wary of trying to pull
everything apart after removing the horizontal stem bolts to see how
the thing works. Having said that however, if that is what is required
to tighten the headset, then I will do it.

There very well might be a little plastic plug in the 5mm allen
adjusting screw.

Robin Hubert

ln0 said:

Hi all, question from a newbie at bike maintenance:
The headset on my mountain bike has recently gotten somewhat loose and
I want to tighten it. Referring to a bike maintenance for dummies type
book I have, I gather that my stem is of the threadless variety. Now
the book states that one simply loosens the two horizontal bolts that
clamp the stem, and tighten the top cap nut with an allen key. Problem
is, my headset has no nut on the top cap. The top is just a flat
plastic cap that doesn't seem to come off even when I remove the
horizontal stem bolts. So, my question is how do I tighten my headset?

Thanks in advance.

P.S: Seeing as how I'm new to this, I'm slightly wary of trying to pull
everything apart after removing the horizontal stem bolts to see how
the thing works. Having said that however, if that is what is required
to tighten the headset, then I will do it.

Take a look at the Park Tool Repair site:
parktool.comhowfix headthreadless.shtmlOpen ↗

The illustrations there and instructions should help.