fully integrated headset question

I built up my new gangsta track with its fully integrated headset today, and I believe I took the right steps, but there seems to be a problem nonetheless...

Please bear with me here, since I have to try and explain with my limited knowledge of your language and the subject matter.

after installation I lifted the front wheel up and pulled on the stem to see if it would move vertically, which it doesn't. But pulling the stem forward and back I could feel the fork move ever so slightly horizontally. less than 1mm I would say.

my questions now are. Is that normal/ok? How can I fix that? (I already loosened the stem again and tightened the top cap) What would be the worst case scenario if unattended?

thanks for all the help

sebastian

did you tighten the top cap before you tightened the stem?

yes. kept the stem loose until I tightened it...

It might be that the top cap is clamping down on the steerer tube itself rather than the stem/spacers, and hence not putting enough pressure into the bearings.

If so, the stack might need an extra small spacer in there, or a couple of mm taken off the steerer tube.

Hmm.... this seems like a good thing to check out myself before I give up and head to the bike shop.

Do a search there is a few other threads about this on here. I had the same problem, do what they say up thread about tightening the top cap before the stem and if there is still play you will almost certainly need another spacer.

I built up my new gangsta track with its fully integrated headset today, and I believe I took the right steps, but there seems to be a problem nonetheless...

Please bear with me here, since I have to try and explain with my limited knowledge of your language and the subject matter.

after installation I lifted the front wheel up and pulled on the stem to see if it would move vertically, which it doesn't. But pulling the stem forward and back I could feel the fork move ever so slightly horizontally. less than 1mm I would say.

my questions now are. Is that normal/ok? How can I fix that? (I already loosened the stem again and tightened the top cap) What would be the worst case scenario if unattended?

thanks for all the help

sebastian

Leaving the bearings loose will eventually lead to the destruction of the headset bearings, provided the star is not sliding up the forks tube, the top cap is more than likely fouling the the fork tube.

what fixedtrekker said...

thanks!

Or you have the wrong bearings in??? Unlikely if fully integrated but highly possible if your running a semi-integrated headset.

No idea what the Gangsta is TBH.

thanks senor, but I fixed the problem using the tipps above..

the headset is fully-integrated and the bike is a brooklyn machine works gangsta track. name sounds worse than it looks! ;)