cant tell if my headset is a bit loose.

[fooferdoggie]

if there is any play in it it is pretty tiny. but I found this ring has a tiny bit of wobble and you see a little grease has oozed out. Don't know if my shop will be open or not to take it in. if it is how do I tighten it up? here is a little video https://share.icloud.com/photos/0eBsnWXfndFJVx6ZyxqD4nBWQ#Happy_Valley

 

[harryS]

You don't show the top of the headset so I can't tel whether that's a threaded or threadless steerer, but it looks like it is a threadless design. Our buddy RJ has a good video.

A threadless headset is easier because you don't need the big wrenches.

And if you don't have a tub of grease, might as well have the shop regrease it.

 

[steve marino]

A little grease migrating is normal. Lock your front brake and push the bike forward and backward while straddling it. Look at the headset when you do this and see if you notice any play. There's probably a thousand youtube videos showing how to adjust and/or lube the headset yourself. It's really, really simple.

 

[FlatSix911]

if there is any play in it it is pretty tiny. but I found this ring has a tiny bit of wobble and you see a little grease has oozed out.
Don't know if my shop will be open or not to take it in. if it is how do I tighten it up? here is a little video https://share.icloud.com/photos/0eBsnWXfndFJVx6ZyxqD4nBWQ#Happy_Valley

View attachment 47884View attachment 47885

You should definitely repack the headset bearings with fresh grease... the rust is a sure sign that corrosion is at work and needs to be addressed.

Then follow the procedure in the video to tighten the headset, and test the play by rocking the bike back and forth with the front brake applied.

If you don't feel comfortable with this procedure, just take the bike into your local shop for service. Good luck!

 

[Ravi Kempaiah]

I agree with @FlatSix911 .

Rust is not a good sign and looks like the headset bearing may be shot. May be not but I sure think your bike is ready for a headset overhaul or a through tune-up.

 

[fooferdoggie]

it's not rust its grease its sticky. I discovered it when I washed my bike and it didn't to come off. I don't know if my bike shop will be open there is one that was open right by my work but things have changed. they don't like to work on ay e bikes they don't sell.

 

[JRA]

Ok then, it's rusty grease which occurs when there is moisture, even due to condensation, in the head tube. Plenty of youtube vids on how to go about maintaining aheadsets to choose from. A few special tools are necessary like a press and crown race remover for a complete replacement/overhaul. If you can track the type of headset on there you could at least do away without having to remove the crown race.

In the olden days of ball bearings versus cartridge bearings it was easy to flush the bearings and reapply grease. Cartridge types once toasted are best to be replaced.

As an aside at the same time look into finding a solid type stem that matches the geo of the way you have that adjustable stem. Adjustable stems are a handy way for the industry to fit alot of folks but once fit is determined a solid stem is much sturdier, safer and one less connection to worry about.

 

[fooferdoggie]

its still on its one year warranty I have only had it since nov. so the bike shop can deal with it.

 

[fooferdoggie]

went to one of the few open bike shops and they said its normal for this to happen riding in all the rain I have done. the bearings were getting a bit gritty when they were greasing them up so I am having them replace them with a upgrade since I ride every day and it is rainy in portland or. 119.00 and high quality bearings that are easy to maintain. they need it once or twice a year I think with al the rain twice a year.

 

[fooferdoggie]

well all fixed. well looking at this pic its easy to see where the water gets in.

 

[Mike TowpathTraveler]

That right there is some atrocious engineering, a very real electrical-short just waiting to happen with those wires chafing on that opening. And trust me, those wires WILL chafe through, it's just a matter of when. I take it that your bike is a Bulls. I expected being German that they would not have routed the wiring within the headset tube for starters and for finishers, that they'd have designed and installed their wiring run on the top or downtubes and used some kind of in-house "weatherhead" which the wires ran into separately, preventing wire chafe while keeping water out.

Note how Haibike does it in the picture of my Full FatSix, here.

I'd recommend protecting that wire run against chafe using some kind of electrical tape and then implementing a scheduled inspection routine, say every month or so. Good luck and let us know how it plays out for you!

One more thing: The reason why your bearing rusted was not because of the rains of Portland, it's because some German engineer thought it was a swell idea to run the e-drive control wires out of the head stock. With that hole like that, you can expect bearing replacement every 6 months or so unless steps are taken to make that hole weathertight.....

 

[fooferdoggie]

ya it did not seem it was the best design. I will use some silicone adhesive on it. that will lock the wires in place and seal it but it can be peeled off with some work.

 

[fooferdoggie]

ok I only have the runny version so it will take a few applications. but getting the thick stuff is hard right now but this weill keep the wires from moving and seal the hole. I can peel it off when I upgrade to the smartphone holder.

 

[Mike TowpathTraveler]

ya it did not seem it was the best design. I will use some silicone adhesive on it. that will lock the wires in place and seal it but it can be peeled off with some work.

Let's put it this way: if you don't take steps to correct this goof by Bulls, when those wires chafe and short out, you can kiss your ebike drive away.

If this bike is still under a factory warranty, I'd look into exploring some kind of settlement with Bulls with an eye towards complete frame replacement. At a minimum, they've guaranteed you an annual replacement of your headset lower bearing as it collects rain water after each weather event. And at every full lock movement of your handlebars, that wire run is rubbing against that headstock opening.

Your initial picture showing the running rust was bad enough for a newish-bike. Your latest picture just floored me as I'd expect a higher tier bike manufacturer to not make this kind of design error. There is an ongoing thread over on MTBR about a Trek mountain bike owner unhappy over his dropper post cable lug was welded in at the factory upside down. This meant his cable could not be secured onto the cable lug as designed. Certainly not as big an error as this condition on your Bulls. I believe after complaining loud enough, Trek replaced his frame, outright.

Again, look again at how Haibike runs their wire runs and compare that with the haphazard way your Bulls is run. Haibike makes an actual plastic insert that is fitted into the frame, held in place by a machine screw, for their wire runs in and out of the frame.

You really need to talk with your ebike dealer. This is totally unsat.

 

[fooferdoggie]

Let's put it this way: if you don't take steps to correct this goof by Bulls, when those wires chafe and short out, you can kiss your ebike drive away.

If this bike is still under a factory warranty, I'd look into exploring some kind of settlement with Bulls with an eye towards complete frame replacement. At a minimum, they've guaranteed you an annual replacement of your headset lower bearing as it collects rain water after each weather event. And at every full lock movement of your handlebars, that wire run is rubbing against that headstock opening.

Your initial picture showing the running rust was bad enough for a newish-bike. Your latest picture just floored me as I'd expect a higher tier bike manufacturer to not make this kind of design error. There is an ongoing thread over on MTBR about a Trek mountain bike owner unhappy over his dropper post cable lug was welded in at the factory upside down. This meant his cable could not be secured onto the cable lug as designed. Certainly not as big an error as this condition on your Bulls. I believe after complaining loud enough, Trek replaced his frame, outright.

Again, look again at how Haibike runs their wire runs and compare that with the haphazard way your Bulls is run. Haibike makes an actual plastic insert that is fitted into the frame, held in place by a machine screw, for their wire runs in and out of the frame.

You really need to talk with your ebike dealer. This is totally unsat.

Yep but that won’t happen for awhile till we are back to normal. But maybe a email to bulls? We did not even have as much rain as usual this winter so it would have been worse if the weather was worse.

 

[Mike TowpathTraveler]

Yep but that won’t happen for awhile till we are back to normal. But maybe a email to bulls? We did not even have as much rain as usual this winter so it would have been worse if the weather was worse.

I'd recommend going through the dealer you purchased your Bulls from. Good luck and let us know how this works out.

These bikes of ours costs a pretty penny and we deserve the courtesy of positive action taken by both the dealer and the manufacturer. That is the kind of engineering one would expect of those cookie cutter look-alike ebikes coming out of China, not a high end German brand!