Service The Bike Headset On A Threaded Steerer - YouTube

With the bike on the ground, loosen the lock-nut.

Put the bike in a stand remove the front wheel(link). Put a strap under the fork crown and around

the down-tube. Unclamp and remove the handlebar stem, loosen the lock-nut, remove it along

with any washers, cable hangers etc. taking note of the order in which the parts come

off. Unscrew the adjustable race. Look out for rubber seals and note which way they go

up.

Remove the balls or rollers. They may be held in a clip or rolling free. If the balls are

free count how many there are. Some may stick to the top race so make sure you don’t lose

any.

Once you’ve undone the top you can carefully undo the strap while supporting the forks

and take the bottom race apart, there may be a rubber seal, note it’s position.

Clean the balls or rollers and the races with degreaser. Inspect the races for signs of

uneven wear or roughness. Changing the balls for new ones of exactly the same size – take

an old one to the shop as a sample – will prolong the life of the races. Balls in a

clip are easier to handle but if you use loose balls you can fit more in so each one carrys

less load. If the races are rough or badly worn the whole bike headset needs to be replaced.

Fill one of the bottom, races with new grease then fit the rollers or balls. The grease

holds the balls in place while you start to reassemble the bearing. If you’re replacing

loose balls use the same number that came out. If you’re replacing balls in a clip,

with loose balls, put in as many as will fit – in-line, along the wear-line of the race

– then remove one so those that remain have room to roll.

Put the threaded steerer tube back into the headtube, take care not to disturb the balls

– or roller clip – stuck in the grease. If the race had a rubber seal put it back

in the right place. Strap the fork to the downtube.

If you turned the bike over spin it back to the right way up. Grease one side of the top

race and fit the balls or rollers.

Fit any rubber seal and reassemble the top race, any washers and screw down the lock

nut finger tight. Put the handlebar stem back in the threaded steerer tube and lock roughly

in place.

Remove the strap, fit the front wheel and reconnect the front brake. Put the bike on

the floor to make final adjustments to the bike headset before locking it.

Check the position of the handlebars and lock in place.