Odd steering feeling

i think it's a headset problem, and i've searched a bit and had a look and scratched my head.
so.

i've noticed that steering feels a bit "odd". as if there's an effort to push the wheel to the left or the right after i've been going in a straight line for a bit. i've recently replaced the bearings in my headset and retightened it. there doesn't appear to be any play (turn wheel to 90 degrees - no rocking etc). and the bars move freely left and right when lifting the front wheel off the ground.
however this morning, after stopping at the side of the road to check out wtf was happening, i centred the bars and they stuck.as if there was a groove or a natural resting position. does that make sense? furthermore, it takes a little effort to move it out of that position.but when it is moved, it moves freely left or right.

so to recap:
no knock (that i can tell), bars move freely, but appears to have a natural resting position that the bars "lock" into, new bearings (greased (red)), headset recently adjusted.

is it:
a) time for a new headset
b) time for a date with headset spanners
c) bearings
d) i've fucked the top of the fork
e) none of the above

f) you've overtightened it, refer to b)

That's my guess, having done something similar. If you back it off slightly you'll probably find it works perfectly.

ever overtightened, or a dead spot where it centres usually means there has been a front collision.

I'd guess at b)
some headsets have a bump on their inner edge that corresponds to a groove in the threading of the fork steerer. i.e. the headset spacers (if you have any) have to be put on in the correct position...
But actually thinking about it, this shouldn't be an issue.
I have no idea!

Does it feel 'notched'? If you've ridden for too long with fucked bearings you can groove out a pit when the bars are centered and moving over this feels like there's a notch when the wheel is centered. Check the cups if loose bearing headset.

Usually happens when the bearings deform the surface of the cup or race, leaving small dents. The bearings 'find' the dent and hence the steering goes stiff.

Rather than getting a a new cup or race installed, people get around it by using bearings without the race, as the load is spread more evenly. Doesn't always work though, depends on the amount of damage.

Sorry, I'm shit at wording stuff, I'm sure someone will give a better answer shortly.

doesn't feel notched, there's no turn-stop-turn-sensation.
it's more of a going straight, need to turn the bars left or right, turn bars leads to strange sensation. not in a "WOAH WTF WAS THAT??" more a "that doesn't normally feel like that".
have been overtightened, have backed it off.
clearly it appears not to have been loosened sufficiently.

(No headset spacers, bearings in cages)

Just try the bearings without the race. You'll need to add one or possibly two more, although don't ram then in there tight.

Sam, you're being confusing. The "race" is the part that the balls roll along - there's one in the cup and one on the cone with loose bearing setups.
The thing you are talking about is just some kind of bearing holder - dunno it's actual name. If you ditch the bearing retainer clip thing of no name, then I used to add a single bearing to make up for it.

Sealed bearing.. bearing "cage" then..

Like this for non-sealed..

New headset.

the race would have to be severely pitted though for the "centre lock" (for want of a better description) feeling i'm getting though. and they'd have to be either all over the race or a big groove at 12 and 6 (if you think of the race as a clock face). where 12 = front, 6 = rear.
wouldn't they?

Hard to spot the beginnings of them pitting. Problem seems minor: minor pitting.

Sam, you're being confusing. The "race" is the part that the balls roll along - there's one in the cup and one on the cone with loose bearing setups.
The thing you are talking about is just some kind of bearing holder - dunno it's actual name. If you ditch the bearing retainer clip thing of no name, then I used to add a single bearing to make up for it.

Sealed bearing.. bearing "cage" then..

Like this for non-sealed..

accepts slap on cock from hippy

shimano 105?
30 quid?
fitting?
20?
that about right?

105 headset? The older ones are £12 off ebay.

Fitting, you just need someone with hammer, wood, screwdriver (or a headset press and punch to do it properly).

The London Bicycle Repair workshop, just off The Cut, charge a tenner to fit a threaded headset.

right. so.
basically. headset spanners to fix the problem now.

new headset to sort it properly.

i think we've reached a conclusion.

thanks forum.
high fives, beer and midgets all round.

I have headset spanner at home. If no one else has one that's easier to get I can ride home and bring it back to Wests.

i've got one on me, i think moth is bringing a 32 mm spanner to wests.

I've had something similar to this before- old headset, and the races had pitted at the front.

A cheap fix (if you have the tools) is to reinstall the headset 180 degrees from it's current orientation.

That way the section of the race which takes your weight at the straight ahead is unworn.

having a similar problem at the moment after recent headset tightening, how tight should it be? in between finger tight and fixed sort of thing?

It should be tight enough that there's no rocking (fore-aft movement) and loose enough to allow the bars to turn without resistance. Same as every other bearing setup - turns freely without side-to-side movement.

http://www.parktool.com/repair/byregion.asp?catid=10&imageField2.x=34&imageField2.y=9

hmm, might have fucked my headset then. handlebars move freely now anyway but get same off feeling as described above. rode for a month with wobbling headset - it took me ages to get a wrench together - have now tightened it and wheel feels like it'll slip out from me. not sure backing it off will do owt. but enough of my problems...

speaking of headset spanners

which git has mine??

Rode for a month with loose headset?!

That = fail.

Your headset is fucked.