Gixxerman
Guru
I have noticed over the last few months that the headset on my Trek 4700 has kept coming loose.
I kept adjusting it to take up the slack, only for it to work lose again.
Then last week I noticed orange water coming out the lower headstock bearings.
So there has obviously been some water ingress.
I took off the forks and checked the bearings. The upper ones seem fine, but the lower ones are very rough. I have done my best to clean them with (spit!) WD40. But they are still very noisy.
I tried to remove the bearings from the frame to get a better look, but they are proving very difficult to remove without the required tool. I have tried a few bodges and some very light persuasion but they will not budge. I am reticent to use any great force for fear of damaging the headstock.
So what are my best options?
Re-pack them with grease and hope for the best?
Replace the bearings?
Replace the whole headset? I have seen one on Wiggle for £22.50 (http://www.wiggle.co.uk/token-tk737acb-heavy-duty-threadless-mtb-headset/)
I expect that I would have to get the LBS to remove the old headset. I could fit the new one myself as I have a suitable puller. But if the LBS is removing the old one, they might as well fit the new one whilst they are at it.
I kept adjusting it to take up the slack, only for it to work lose again.
Then last week I noticed orange water coming out the lower headstock bearings.
So there has obviously been some water ingress.
I took off the forks and checked the bearings. The upper ones seem fine, but the lower ones are very rough. I have done my best to clean them with (spit!) WD40. But they are still very noisy.
I tried to remove the bearings from the frame to get a better look, but they are proving very difficult to remove without the required tool. I have tried a few bodges and some very light persuasion but they will not budge. I am reticent to use any great force for fear of damaging the headstock.
So what are my best options?
Re-pack them with grease and hope for the best?
Replace the bearings?
Replace the whole headset? I have seen one on Wiggle for £22.50 (http://www.wiggle.co.uk/token-tk737acb-heavy-duty-threadless-mtb-headset/)
I expect that I would have to get the LBS to remove the old headset. I could fit the new one myself as I have a suitable puller. But if the LBS is removing the old one, they might as well fit the new one whilst they are at it.