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Pro tip: That conversation with the framebuilder at the swap meet made me question every headset I've installed
He said he measures bearing preload by feel through the fork blades instead of using a torque wrench and after trying it on a sticky headset last week I think he might be onto something, has anyone else ditched the numbers for fingertip feel?
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blair_martin1mo ago
That framebuilder sounds like a total legend" - yeah @lily70 nailed it there. But here's my question: how do you tell the difference between bearing preload feel and other vibrations coming through the fork on a rough frame? I tried it on my old steel bike and I swear I felt something but then the headset still had a little bit of play after. @taylorellis your shed guy might have had the magic touch, but I'm wondering if some frames just transmit feel better than others. I think the real trick is knowing what "just right" actually feels like in your fingertips versus guessing and hoping for the best.
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lily701mo ago
That framebuilder sounds like a total legend, definitely someone worth listening to. Sometimes throwing out the numbers and trusting your hands is the best way to solve a sticky headset. Really glad you shared this, it's exactly the kind of tip I needed to hear!
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taylorellis1mo ago
Bought a cheap frame once from a guy who built bikes in his shed. @lily70 reminded me of him. He never used a torque wrench for anything.
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