"Old fashioned" threaded King headsets - preload adjustment

[54ny77]

It's been many years, literally, since I had to tinker with a threaded 1" headset. The pic below is what I have. To adjust preload, do I need to have a very thin headset wrench for the "nut" portion on the upper cup, hold it in place with that thin wrench then use another wrench to tighten the lock ring on top? And then back off the bottom to snug it up?

Thanks for any tips.

[jtakeda]

the way ive always done it was make sure you have the little slotted washer thing between the two nut portions.

tighten the bottom cup so its just starting to give some resistance.
then tighten the top cup so its right up next to the bottom
then use both wrenches tighten the top cup while backing out the bottom cup towards the top.

I could be wrong--but thats the way ive always learned.

[54ny77]

cool thanks jtakeda.

Originally Posted by jtakeda

the way ive always done it was make sure you have the little slotted washer thing between the two nut portions.

tighten the bottom cup so its just starting to give some resistance.
then tighten the top cup so its right up next to the bottom
then use both wrenches tighten the top cup while backing out the bottom cup towards the top.

I could be wrong--but thats the way ive always learned.

[pdmtong]

Originally Posted by jtakeda

the way ive always done it was make sure you have the little slotted washer thing between the two nut portions.

tighten the bottom cup so its just starting to give some resistance.
then tighten the top cup so its right up next to the bottom
then use both wrenches tighten the top cup while backing out the bottom cup towards the top.

I could be wrong--but thats the way ive always learned.

^ this...you need the two thin headset (32mm?) wrenches....

[m_sasso]

You really only need one thin headset wrench and a regular size 32mm or a crescent wrench for the top nut. Using a thin wrench on the top/lock nut only increases the chances of damaging the soft faces and corners of the nut.

[Mark McM]

Originally Posted by jtakeda

the way ive always done it was make sure you have the little slotted washer thing between the two nut portions.

tighten the bottom cup so its just starting to give some resistance.
then tighten the top cup so its right up next to the bottom
then use both wrenches tighten the top cup while backing out the bottom cup towards the top.

I could be wrong--but thats the way ive always learned.

I theory, that procedure should work. But in practice, the washer tooth doesn't always engage well with the notch in the steerer threads, allowing the washer (and the top cup) to rotate a bit, throwing off the pre-load adjustment. The surest way to maintain the pre-load adjustment when tightening the lock nut is to hold the top cup with a headset wrench.

[pinkshogun]

if your keyed washer isnt doing its job, lightly bend with plyers so the key itself fits the slot in the fork better...or just get a washer with a bigger key to it..many variances in key sizes

[pdmtong]

Originally Posted by m_sasso

You really only need one thin headset wrench and a regular size 32mm or a crescent wrench for the top nut. Using a thin wrench on the top/lock nut only increases the chances of damaging the soft faces and corners of the nut.

^ def true. i would do as above
...when I had these, both were thin, hence...