Loose upper headset cup?

[heckler]

Hey!
Just picked up a used Santa Cruz Superlight!!! I wanted to put my Chris King headset in so I tapped the old Aheadset out and CAREFULLY installed the King. The King went in really easily. On my ride last night I felt like the upper cup might be rocking a little bit. :( I haven't torn it back down to inspect it yet but I thought I would toss it out to the "community" and see what people thought.

It is a painted frame and I did lose paint when the old cup came out. Could that be enough to alter the diameter? The frame doesn't look like it has been abused to the point where the headtube would be ovalized but who knows? Has anybody had an issue like this and did they find a solution? Thanks!

Chris

[truckboy]

I think it's more likely that you didn't tighten down the whole unit than the cup swimming around in the frame, unless the King is an actual too small size. There's 1" and 1 and an eigth inch fork steer tubes. Must be different head tube sizes too.

[heckler]

It isn't swimming by any stretch. It came from one Santa Cruz 1 1/8 and went into another- same size. At the start of the ride I felt a little "click" as I rocked the bike forward and back with the brake locked. At that point I tightened it all down assuming it was loose. That didn't seem to help though. I am going to pull the fork and make sure the cup is really seated right. I might not have gotten it all the way down. Santa Cruz is pretty sure it is not a frame problem which is ALL that matters!

Thanx for the input!

[truckboy]

I had something like that that turned out to be my brake disc bolts getting loose. Putting the brake on and pushing the bike back & forth felt loose, like the head was loose. Just trying to help.

[Quo Fan]

Re-check your headset. Tighten the top cap bolt while turning the wheel until you feel resistance, then back the bolt out 1/8 turn and then tighten the stem bolts. Check your rotor bolts while you're at it, can't hurt. King headsets are catridge bearings, and if you side load them too much, they won't work.

[C.P.]

Another thing to check. Take another look at the height of the steering column relative to the stem/spacer(s). It needs to be about 3mm (1/8") below the level of the stem. If there's less than 3mm or the steering column is level with the top of the stem, the top cap (bearing adjustment via star-nut) when tight, will not effectively set the bearing so they are properly adjusted, and hence loose HS....

Good luck!

[heckler]

Thanks. Great suggestions. I will check them out and let you know what I find!

[auntesther1]

sounds to me like the headset has flared out. if the cups press in REALLy easy thats likely what happened.

really 2 solutions...1 is pretty ghetto and I wouldnt use the King but you could JB Weld a headset cup into the headtube...or you could invest in a deep cup headset like a King steelset or and FSA deep cup. They will insert further into the headtube to where the aluminum likely hasnt been affected by the flaring.

IMO the second is a much better option. if the headtube is flared, it means something isnt right and to keep loading that area will likely lead to cracking or breaking.

[heckler]

Santa Cruz was pretty sure it wouldn't be a flared headtube- especially not on the top. I checked it again today and the rocking I "thought" I had felt with the upper cup wasn't there. There was a clicking though.

And the winner is... CP! I pulled the top cap and although there looked to be enough of a gap down to the steerer, adding a 2mm spacer (well, took a 2 out, put in a 4) took care of the problem. I am guessing I had a fraction of a mm too little. Cranking it down and then backing it off and all seems good. At least in the driveway. I will see how it plays on the trail.
Thanks agian.