headset squeaking

[busdennis]

on giant defy 1 when climbing hills, been there for months but yesterday got time to investigate and removed the fork, couldnt believe the dirt and filth around the bearings. gave it a good clean and applied lithium grease (all i had) and rebuilt.

on the test drive this as made no difference.

do i need better grease or have toasted the bearings due to ignoring the job too long?

 

[Kies]

My Defy 1 has just started to squeak.will strip her down this weekend

 

[screenman]

More often than not the squeaking is coming from where the outer gear cables meet the down tube, a little bit of oil and all is good for a while. I mean at the bit where the ferrule enters the stop, not the tiny bit where they rub.

Funny how noise travels around a bike, seat rails sound like the noise comes from bottom bracket etc.

 

[accountantpete]

Could be a number of things if it is the headset.

1) Might be the compression ring (ring with a little split in it). This is supposed to move with the steerer but when the headset gets mucky it starts sticking to the bearing race and moving around the steerer- hence the squeak. Try a little oil between the steerer and the ring to see if it is this.

2) If they are sealed bearings then prise the seal off and add some grease.