How to make a stock headset not suck

[Rob.]

Well, everyone knows stock headsets WORK, but they don't work well. They're sketchy, noisy, hard to keep solid (if possible), and worst of all, slow. However, around a half hour in my basement and a few weeks of testing have made me post this thread. Anyway on with the tutorial.

Things you will need:
Two headtubes, or extra bottom cups from headtubes.
Stock headset
top nut is optional

Tools:
Hammer, screw driver (flat head), or a headset tool, channel lock or something that can grip onto your headset.

What do to:
First, take your headset off your fork.

Next, you want to rip off the dust cover. NOW there is a downside of excess dust getting into your headset, just oil it every once in a while. It should look like this:

Then, take the top cup out of your headtube, take the bottom cup from another headtube and gently hammer it into the top of the first headtube, if you have more bottom cups, ignore the secondary headtube and just take out the top cup.

Pic of bottom cup:

Now, get a napkin and something to clean it, i personally use nail polish remover. Clean the insides of both cups, and your stock headset and bearings. make them nice and shiny.
Put the fork back on, set the headset up, and go ride.
it should look like this when completed.

Advantages:
+You can tighten it more without the dust cover hitting the top cup and scratching, slowing down your scooter.
+Save money instead of buying a new headset.
+it's deeper. This is obviously an advantage. but i can't explain it.
+spins smoothly

Cons
-Dust gets in it easier, but all you need to do is clean your headset slightly more often.

http://s141.photobucket.com/albums/r72/kingmerik999/?action=view&current=HPIM0623.flv
the headset in action

That is all.

 

[dezbert]

Niceeee

 

[JoshToy]

Metal top cup.

Clean the aweful grease from the bearing using rubbing alcohol. Then lubricate with anything but WD-40. And there you go, works great as long as you tighten it tight but not too much to restrict spin in the headset. Personally, I use 3in1 oil. I used to use Marvel brand automotive piston oil. Both work real well.

 

[Rob.]

Nail polish remover then i lube it with 3 in 1, normally what i do.

 

[TomK]

mix 3 in one and trombone slide lube thats what i do

 

[Steezeman]

I use headset grease that I got from a shop, works well cause that's what it's for.

 

[mbillick1993]

just get an fsa alot easyer

 

[Matt]

just get a cane creek alot easyer

fixed

 

[.erik]

just get a cane creek alot easyer

fixed

for those of us that have $75 just laying around

my stock headset spins about 4 times, i dont/never have understood why you would possibly need it to spin around 20 times

edit: i dont understand how that is easier either.. you still have to do pretty much the same amount of work.

 

[Rob.]

+Save money instead of buying a new headset.

 

[killuhjayx]

I bought a 17 dollar cane creek headset. doesnt cost alot and is pretty good. heres the link.

http://www.danscomp.com/301006.php?cat=PARTS

 

[NM]

all u have to do is take out the bearings wash em then re grease. then put the headset bak on as tight as u can with ur hands and it will spin super fast and be super solid if u dont get ill try and explain better.

 

[Matt]

just get a cane creek alot easyer

fixed

for those of us that have $75 just laying around

my stock headset spins about 4 times, i dont/never have understood why you would possibly need it to spin around 20 times

edit: i dont understand how that is easier either.. you still have to do pretty much the same amount of work.

actually most people get this one

http://jensonusa.com/store/product/HS507A01-Cane+Creek+S-3+Headset.aspx

which costs the same as an fsa but it is MUCH better

 

[Hep Greg]

i've got 2 S-3s, an they both cost me less than 40 bucks. FSA headsets are like 50, and they suck compared to Cane Creek. to the kid who posted the link for the $17.00 Aheadset... congrats, you spent 17 bucks on a threadless stock headset.

 

[Chris Sanchez]

WEDGE for stock headsets and mad grease.

 

[jgmurch]

i've got 2 S-3s, an they both cost me less than 40 bucks. FSA headsets are like 50, and they suck compared to Cane Creek. to the kid who posted the ]
were you being sarcastic or were you serious??? :?

 

[killuhjayx]

Hep Greg I need a headset cause I didnt have one. so congrats on not knowing what you are talking aboutt.

 

[Joe Riley]

rob do you know if you can do this without using 2 bottom cups?

 

[Hep Greg]

are you kidding me? Aheadsets are unsealed. they're cane creek's lower quality line of headsets. it's basically the same thing as a stock headset. there's NO point in buying an aftermarket unsealed headset.

 

[supgeez99]

Nail polish remover then i lube it with 3 in 1, normally what i do.

FUCKK YERRR, cunt.
You do exactly what i do, except i leave the dust cover on, still spins like a fsa or cane creek.
I will try taking the dust cover off next time.
Nice work bro <33333

EDIT: You may want to tape those bolts up with some cloth, i've slit my wrist a couple of times on bars looking like them.