Bicycle handlebars won't tighten fully

azibux1 · 22 Apr 2017 at 22:03

Hi all,

Got a bike that was taken apart a bit to clean up and service a bit. Now when it is all fitted back, if you apply the front brake and rock the bike forwards and back, you can see the whole part where the handlebars join the fork section is loose / wobbling despite screw at the top of the handlebar being tight

Anyone know a possible fix?

Hopefully the explanation made sense

Thanks!

hornetstinger · 22 Apr 2017 at 22:06

If it's headset, loosen the two bolts that are horizontol, then tigthen the top cap bolt SLIGHTLY literally finger tight with your pinkie strength then tighten the two horzintol bolts to 6nm.

The top cap is only a bearing puller not fixing the stem to the bar. If you've over tigthened the top cap you've probably damaged the star fangled nut/bolt. It's not even to 1nm.

neil_g · 22 Apr 2017 at 22:08

p.s there is a bike subforum to the sports section.

azibux1 · 22 Apr 2017 at 22:13

Thanks guys... Didn't know we had a proper sub forum

Colleague currently on the phone so can't listen to that video but will check it out in a bit... seems to have the info I need in it to fix the problem, providing there is nothing damaged

Not the bike in question, but just a random pic online... it is neither of the red parts that are loose... from what I remember it is the yellow part that is loose

hornetstinger · 22 Apr 2017 at 22:15

then it's the headset, if there's play in that you need do what I said. The two bolts on the left, then slightly tigthen top cap till there's no play in the forks. Finger tight only.

neil_g · 22 Apr 2017 at 22:20

azibux1 said:
Thanks guys... Didn't know we had a proper sub forum

Colleague currently on the phone so can't listen to that video but will check it out in a bit... seems to have the info I need in it to fix the problem, providing there is nothing damaged

Not the bike in question, but just a random pic online... it is neither of the red parts that are loose... from what I remember it is the yellow part that is loose

it is squirrelled away

if the yellow bit is loose the vid will help

Dis86 · 22 Apr 2017 at 22:41

So, where abouts are you? If you're near me I'm happy to come take a look if you can't sort it.

azibux1 · 22 Apr 2017 at 22:50

That's perfect, just watched it, seems very simple

My Dad was going to drop it off with the local cycle shop guy but thought I'd check here first (after a quick google) and I'm glad I did

Will give this a go next time I have a moment, probably Tuesday

Thanks for the offer @Dis86, East Anglia though unfortunately

Hopefully nothing has been over tightened / damaged

Which I assume is possible if you try to tighten the top cap one too much while the horizontal bolts are still tight? Not sure what my Dad tried so far.

Supernova · 22 Apr 2017 at 22:51

If it's the yellow part it's still very likely the top cap. As said loosen pinch bolts on the stem, tighten the cap, then tighten pinch bolts again.

Edit: Yes, attempting to tighten the cap with the pinch bolts still tight will do nothing to help the issue. So the tendency is to keep trying to tighten the top cap, which will usually end in mashing the screw head!

azibux1 · 22 Apr 2017 at 22:54

MSTRBKR said:
If it's the yellow part it's still very likely the top cap. As said loosen pinch bolts on the stem, tighten the cap, then tighten pinch bolts again.

Don't have one of those torque wrenches unfortunately... only got one that came with a set of car roof racks and unfortunately it doesn't have such a 'range' of settings on it, only the one I think that was important for the roof racks

Will have to just judge it by hand

Supernova · 22 Apr 2017 at 22:59

azibux1 said:
Don't have one of those torque wrenches unfortunately... only got one that came with a set of car roof racks and unfortunately it doesn't have such a 'range' of settings on it, only the one I think that was important for the roof racks

Will have to just judge it by hand

Top cap doesn't need to be that tight at all. For the pinch bolts use a tool with quite a short handle to limit the torque you can apply, and you can't go too wrong. A multi tool for example, is so small that you can't really apply enough torque to strip threads unless you're hulk.

azibux1 · 22 Apr 2017 at 23:01

MSTRBKR said:
Top cap doesn't need to be that tight at all. For the pinch bolts use a tool with quite a short handle to limit the toque you can apply, and you can't go too wrong. A multi tool for example, is so small that you can't really apply enough torque to strip threads unless you're hulk.

Ha

Cool will give it a shot on Tuesday most likely and report back here!

Thanks all

azibux1 · 25 Apr 2017 at 17:09

The above video sorted it!

Thanks all

UTmaniac · 24 Sep 2021 at 13:58

axelruner said:
Hope this helps, it helped me anyway https://www.cyclemaintenanceacademy.com/blog/how-to-tighten-bike-handlebars/

Hopefully been fixed in the ~4.5 years since the thread was created. :cry:

patrickwise · 3 Nov 2021 at 09:57

You will need to stand on the bike between your legs while clamping the brakes down to do the checking. You can turn the wheel to find any rocking or odd movement underneath your hands. If you find unusual movements, loosen the side bolts and tighten the top bolt until the situation improves.