> If my headset ever wears out I'm gonna put my wrench set up for sale. That headset has served me
> for 18 years, it's only been repacked twice, and it's still nice and smooth. I guess I won't be
> ready to sell those wrenches anytime soon.
A properly-adjusted headset, even a cheap one, will last almost forever. Headsets die because people
don't realize that they're overtightening them, and nobody showed them the "secret" for determining
just-right adjustment. I could tell you, but then I'd have to... oh, tough, here it is-
Snug the headset up, tighten the two nuts against each other, and then bounce the front wheel on the
ground (an inch or two will do). Note what it sounds like. Now back it off a bit, retighten and try
again. Keep doing this until you hear a new noise/vibration (it should be pretty obvious). Tighten
only enough for that to go away, and voila, perfectly-adjusted headset.
Due to the different way the top bearing assembly is designed in a threadless system, they're far
less prone to damage from being too tight.
--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
http://www.ChainReactionBicycles.com
"Robert Taylor" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> My 1985 Cannondale came with one of those headsets and I bought the special wrench set because I
> thought I had to. I then discovered that regular tools work as other posters have said. Regular
> wrenches will, however, probably mark the headset nuts and the special aluminum Shimano wrenches
> don't do that.
>
> If my headset ever wears out I'm gonna put my wrench set up for sale. That headset has served me
> for 18 years, it's only been repacked twice, and it's still nice and smooth. I guess I won't be
> ready to sell those wrenches anytime soon.
>
> Bob Taylor
