Handlebar wobbling

[travellingwest]

This started the other day after I had turned my bike upside down very carefully (didn't want to scratch it!) to fix a puncture. Now the handlebar has acquired a little wobble. The stem and the headset are solid, nothing else is moving, just the actual handlebars slightly moving, as in there is a little bit of up/down play in them. Hard to describe, harder to film it this morning as it just doesn't show up on camera. All the bolts are tight, so I'm confused as to why and what do I do about it. Total novice when it comes to bike maintenance. All help gratefully received.

 

[Ratchet Cat]

Hi can you upload a photo of your bike please?
It will make it a bit easier to give advice. Thank you.

 

[figbat]

The bars haven’t corroded inside the stem have they?

 

[fossyant]

Your wheel isn't loose ?

 

[Sharky]

You've just had the bike upside down and presume you removed the front wheel. I would retrace what you have done and double check that the wheel has been replaced correctly.

Although the symptoms appear to be with the handle bars, sometimes the issue can be else where

 

[Sharky]

Your wheel isn't loose ?

Cross posting, my thoughts as well

 

[lazybloke]

Part if the tyre bead not seated correctly?

 

[fossyant]

Cross posting, my thoughts as well

Exactly, just tipping the bike up wouldn't suddenly introduce loose bars/stem. The only thing that's changed is the wheel. Especially if it was re-fitted when the bike was upside down. Gravity and the weight of the bike the right way up help. Even if I refit a wheel in my workstand, I'll drop it to the floor undo the QR and re-tighten it with the bike's weight to help.

 

[fossyant]

Part if the tyre bead not seated correctly?

Another good suggestion, this would give a feeling of a wobbly handlebar if riding along.

 

[travellingwest]

The bars haven’t corroded inside the stem have they?

I would very much hope not, the bike was brand new 2 months ago!

 

[travellingwest]

I saw that and my first thought was that Wellington is a lot more than 12 miles from Shrewsbury, then realised it is a different Wellington than the one we drove past on the way home from Shrewsbury this afternoon, which is off the A49 fairly close to Hereford.

Your wheel isn't loose ?

You've just had the bike upside down and presume you removed the front wheel. I would retrace what you have done and double check that the wheel has been replaced correctly.

Although the symptoms appear to be with the handle bars, sometimes the issue can be else where

Part if the tyre bead not seated correctly?

I did wonder if it was me mending the puncture and I'd done something wrong, having never done it before. I shall investigate this.

 

[fossyant]

I did wonder if it was me mending the puncture and I'd done something wrong, having never done it before. I shall investigate this.

Spin the wheel, and watch if the tyre wobbles about. If it does, I'd let the air out, and re-inflate but go over pressure, then back off. i.e. if it says 40 PST, inflate to 60, see if the tyre 'pops' into place, then let the pressure back out and check to 40.

If it still doesn't play, then soapy water all the way round both tyre beads then inflate again (washing up liquid and a bit of water - can be applied using a wet dishcloth with loads of washing up liquid on it - acts as a lubricant). I use talc on my tube and inside of tyres.

 

[travellingwest]

Hi can you upload a photo of your bike please?
It will make it a bit easier to give advice. Thank you.

 

[Sharky]

You have an adjustable quill stem.
Two possibilities ...
- take the rubber bung off and check the expander bolt is tight.
- check the pivot that allows the handle bars to be raised,/lowered.

- also check that stem isn't raised above the high low marks on the stem.

 

[fossyant]

You've also got 'cheap' suspension forks and you always get a bit of play in that type of fork. I'm still going with wheel or tyre not fitted properly.

Alos as it's new, have you had the first 'free' service - where they just check it over ?