kjchapman@wateng.UUCP (Kevin J. Chapman) (09/20/85)
Since my original posting elicited no response, I thought I'd
have another stab at it.
The posting:
I've got a problem: my year-and-a-half old Miyata 1000 has
recently started suffering from creaky handlebars. They creak
when I apply pressure on one side or the other, but not both,
which leads me to think that the stem or headset might be the problem.
I've tried tightening the stem clamp, but to no avail. Does anyone
have any ideas? If it will help, the bars are the alloy type with
a reinforcing tube in the centre (Sakae Road Champion Randonneur),
stem is an SR Royal, and headset is a Tange Levin sealed bearing.
Thanks in advance,
Kevin
--
Kevin Chapman
Computer Communications Networks Group
Waterversity of Uniloo
'Loo, Ont., Canadareintom@rocky2.UUCP (Tom Reingold) (09/24/85)
> I've got a problem: my year-and-a-half old Miyata 1000 has > recently started suffering from creaky handlebars. They creak > when I apply pressure on one side or the other, but not both, > which leads me to think that the stem or headset might be the problem. > I've tried tightening the stem clamp, but to no avail. Does anyone > have any ideas? If it will help, the bars are the alloy type with > a reinforcing tube in the centre (Sakae Road Champion Randonneur), > stem is an SR Royal, and headset is a Tange Levin sealed bearing. >Thanks in advance, > Kevin I guaranty that the following will work: Loosen the handlebar clamp of the stem (the part of the stem that clamps the handlebar). Spray some WD-40 or some equivalent lubricant in there. Don't worry if you can't see where you are spraying. It will find its way even in if you are not careful. Tighten the clamp again. I promise that the handlebar will not slip within the stem and that the squeak will be gone. Tom Reingold (212) 304-2504
tom@oasys.UUCP (09/24/85)
> > Since my original posting elicited no response, I thought I'd > have another stab at it. > > The posting: > > I've got a problem: my year-and-a-half old Miyata 1000 has > recently started suffering from creaky handlebars. They creak > when I apply pressure on one side or the other, but not both, > which leads me to think that the stem or headset might be the problem. > I've tried tightening the stem clamp, but to no avail. Does anyone > have any ideas? If it will help, the bars are the alloy type with > a reinforcing tube in the centre (Sakae Road Champion Randonneur), > stem is an SR Royal, and headset is a Tange Levin sealed bearing. > > Thanks in advance, > Kevin > -- > > Kevin Chapman > Computer Communications Networks Group > Waterversity of Uniloo > 'Loo, Ont., Canada The details of where and how your bars and stem squeak don't really matter. Just apply some grease to every point where metal contacts metal. This includes the binder bolt and its threads, the wedge piece that screws on to it, the point where the binder bolt seats at the top of the stem , all points on the bolt in the stem that tightens down on the bars, and the area where the stem contacts the bars, and the area around the stem where it slides down into the head tube. Tom Nelson
kjchapman@wateng.UUCP (Kevin J. Chapman) (09/25/85)
Thanks to Rob, Hans, Michael, Les, and Jon for their suggestions
on how to silence my squeaky handlebars. Some of the suggestions were
things I'd already thought of and tried, but I appreciate the efforts
of those who responded.
I seem to have solved the problem without having found out
exactly what it was. Suggested causes were:
1) stem mounted too high, causing stress to be transferred
to top of slit in expanding stem
2) brake levers not tight enough (they would squeak if
you ride with your hands on the hoods)
3) squeaky saddle - try riding with your bum in the air
to test this
4) try sliding bars to the side, lubricating the area
where they touch the stem (without letting any oil
touch the rims :-)), and reassemble
5) reinforcing sleeve has worked its way loose - no solution
In my case a combination of 4 and some fiddling (loosening the binder
bolt, wiggling the stem, and retightening) seems to have done the trick
for now. I guess only time will tell for sure.
Kevin
P.S. Replies to /dev/null, I'm afraid. I will be leaving tomorrow.
Good luck to all...
--
Kevin Chapman
Computer Communications Networks Group
Waterversity of Uniloo
'Loo, Ont., Canadapowers@noscvax.UUCP (William J. Powers) (09/27/85)
> > Since my original posting elicited no response, I thought I'd > have another stab at it. > > The posting: > > I've got a problem: my year-and-a-half old Miyata 1000 has > recently started suffering from creaky handlebars. They creak > when I apply pressure on one side or the other, but not both, > which leads me to think that the stem or headset might be the problem. > I've tried tightening the stem clamp, but to no avail. Does anyone > have any ideas? If it will help, the bars are the alloy type with > a reinforcing tube in the centre (Sakae Road Champion Randonneur), > stem is an SR Royal, and headset is a Tange Levin sealed bearing. > > Thanks in advance, > Kevin > -- > > Kevin Chapman > Computer Communications Networks Group > Waterversity of Uniloo > 'Loo, Ont., Canada I had a similar problem and one bike shop suggested that I grease the stem. It didn't surprise me that this did'nt work. I think the more likely cause of this problem is that either the stem is not far enough down inside the fork or that the stem is too small. Check both of these. Let us know if you are able to solve this problem. Bill Powers.
tom@oasys.UUCP (10/02/85)
> > > > Since my original posting elicited no response, I thought I'd > > have another stab at it. > > > > The posting: > > > > I've got a problem: my year-and-a-half old Miyata 1000 has > > recently started suffering from creaky handlebars. They creak > > when I apply pressure on one side or the other, but not both, > > which leads me to think that the stem or headset might be the problem. > > I've tried tightening the stem clamp, but to no avail. Does anyone > > have any ideas? If it will help, the bars are the alloy type with > > a reinforcing tube in the centre (Sakae Road Champion Randonneur), > > stem is an SR Royal, and headset is a Tange Levin sealed bearing. > > > > Thanks in advance, > > Kevin > > -- > > > > Kevin Chapman > > Computer Communications Networks Group > > Waterversity of Uniloo > > 'Loo, Ont., Canada > > I had a similar problem and one bike shop suggested that I grease the > stem. It didn't surprise me that this did'nt work. I think the more > likely cause of this problem is that either the stem is not far enough > down inside the fork or that the stem is too small. Check both of > these. Let us know if you are able to solve this problem. > > Bill Powers. If it didn't work its because you didn't grease the point that creaks. Like I said before, you have to grease every point where metal contacts metal because you can't hope to isolate where the exact problem is. This is a problem I've encountered often in 9 years of racing on a national level and I've always been able to fix it this way. Tom Nelson