Why is my Dura Ace headset so tight?

[Jpinkowish]

I had a shop remove a Super Record HS from a lovely 1983 Marinoni Special and install a Dura
Ace 7400 HS.

I installed the DA stem and tightened up the HS. If I just snug up the top cup so the steering is
nice and easy, the fork moves in the steerer and I can see the top cup move. If I go tighter on the
cup so the fork don't move, steering gets really hard.

Whatsa matter here? --Do I have the dust seals in backward? I have the angled face towards the
bearings --races and/or lower cup not seated properly? I assume the steerer tube was properly faced
as the frame came with the Record HS installed.

Please post replies to the list.

Thanks.

Jan Pinkowish

 

[Art Harris]

Jpinkowish wrote:
> I had a shop remove a Super Record HS from a lovely 1983 Marinoni Special and install a Dura Ace
> 7400 HS.
>
> I installed the DA stem and tightened up the HS.

Wait a minute! If the shop installed the headset, why are you messing with it? You should have just
installed the stem.

> If I just snug up the top cup so the steering is nice and easy, the fork moves in the steerer

The steerer is part of the fork; it can't move relative to the fork. I think you mean the
steerer/fork rotates within the headtube (as it should).

> and I can see the top cup move. If I go tighter on the cup so the fork don't move, steering gets
> really hard.

Are you tightening the locknut against the upper cup? You need to be very careful as it's VERY easy
to get the HS too tight (and quickly end up with indexed steering). You want to start with the
adjustment a little loose. Tighten the locknut while holding the upper cup with a headset wrench.
Squeeze the front brake, and rock the bike while listening for clunking noises (indicates HS too
loose). Then readjust in very small increments until the clunking just disappears. But the shop
should have done this when they installed the HS.

> I assume the steerer tube was properly faced as the frame came with the Record HS installed.

You mean the fork crown and headtube; the steerer tube does not get faced.

Take it back to the shop that installed the HS!

Art Harris

 

[Qui si parla Ca]

jpinkowski-<< Whatsa matter here? --Do I have the dust seals in backward? I have the angled face
towards the bearings --races and/or lower cup not seated properly? >><BR><BR>

Either the dustseals or the bearings may be upside down...

Peter Chisholm Vecchio's Bicicletteria 1833 Pearl St. Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535 http://www.vecchios.com "Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"

 

[Carl Fogel]

[email protected] (Qui si parla Campagnolo) wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> jpinkowski-<< Whatsa matter here? --Do I have the dust seals in backward? I have the angled face
> towards the bearings --races and/or lower cup not seated properly? >><BR><BR>
>
> Either the dustseals or the bearings may be upside down...
>
> Peter Chisholm Vecchio's Bicicletteria 1833 Pearl St. Boulder, CO, 80302
> (303)440-3535 http://www.vecchios.com "Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"

Dear Peter,

I (modest cough) once replaced the dished front wheels of a 1941 Dodge Army ambulance backwards. The
wide track wasn't visible until I noticed some mechanics laughing and stepped far enough away from
the damned thing to see my folly.

Carl Fogel