First time bike builder: play between the fork and frame, what to do? - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

07-17-2004, 09:56 AM

mike anderson wrote:

> The problem is that there is a play between the suspension fork (SR
> Suntour) and the frame, I estimate it to about a 4 mm play. What could
> be done about it, are thicker ball rings the solution?

Buy the proper parts for the bike.

--
7/16/2004
10:46 AM [GMT-8]

07-17-2004, 09:56 AM

mike anderson wrote:

> The problem is that there is a play between the suspension fork (SR
> Suntour) and the frame, I estimate it to about a 4 mm play. What could
> be done about it, are thicker ball rings the solution?

Buy the proper parts for the bike.

--
7/16/2004
10:46 AM [GMT-8]

07-17-2004, 09:56 AM

mike anderson wrote:

> The problem is that there is a play between the suspension fork (SR
> Suntour) and the frame, I estimate it to about a 4 mm play. What could
> be done about it, are thicker ball rings the solution?

Buy the proper parts for the bike.

--
7/16/2004
10:46 AM [GMT-8]

07-17-2004, 09:56 AM

mike anderson wrote:

> The problem is that there is a play between the suspension fork (SR
> Suntour) and the frame, I estimate it to about a 4 mm play. What could
> be done about it, are thicker ball rings the solution?

Buy the proper parts for the bike.

--
7/16/2004
10:46 AM [GMT-8]

07-17-2004, 09:56 AM

mike anderson wrote:

> The problem is that there is a play between the suspension fork (SR
> Suntour) and the frame, I estimate it to about a 4 mm play. What could
> be done about it, are thicker ball rings the solution?

Buy the proper parts for the bike.

--
7/16/2004
10:46 AM [GMT-8]

07-17-2004, 11:04 AM

"mike anderson" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
>
> I am building my first bike ever, a mountain bike and, since this is a
> learning experience, I am using mostly inexpensive used parts together
> with a Crescent aluminum frame.
>
> The problem is that there is a play between the suspension fork (SR
> Suntour) and the frame, I estimate it to about a 4 mm play. What could
> be done about it, are thicker ball rings the solution?
>
> Any help would be most appreciated, thanks,
> mike

I'm not sure what you mean by "ball rings". I'm guessing ball bearings in a
"cage". If the frame & fork were not originally assembled together, then
perhaps you have a compatibility problem. The "headset" is the set of 2
bearings that the fork swivels on. The frame has "cups" pressed into the top
and bottom of the "headtube". The fork has a "crown race" pressed on to the
"steer tube". You may have a mismatch between the crown race and bottom cup.
You may also be putting one or both of the "ball rings" upside down. Just
guessing...

07-17-2004, 11:04 AM

"mike anderson" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
>
> I am building my first bike ever, a mountain bike and, since this is a
> learning experience, I am using mostly inexpensive used parts together
> with a Crescent aluminum frame.
>
> The problem is that there is a play between the suspension fork (SR
> Suntour) and the frame, I estimate it to about a 4 mm play. What could
> be done about it, are thicker ball rings the solution?
>
> Any help would be most appreciated, thanks,
> mike

I'm not sure what you mean by "ball rings". I'm guessing ball bearings in a
"cage". If the frame & fork were not originally assembled together, then
perhaps you have a compatibility problem. The "headset" is the set of 2
bearings that the fork swivels on. The frame has "cups" pressed into the top
and bottom of the "headtube". The fork has a "crown race" pressed on to the
"steer tube". You may have a mismatch between the crown race and bottom cup.
You may also be putting one or both of the "ball rings" upside down. Just
guessing...

07-17-2004, 11:04 AM

"mike anderson" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
>
> I am building my first bike ever, a mountain bike and, since this is a
> learning experience, I am using mostly inexpensive used parts together
> with a Crescent aluminum frame.
>
> The problem is that there is a play between the suspension fork (SR
> Suntour) and the frame, I estimate it to about a 4 mm play. What could
> be done about it, are thicker ball rings the solution?
>
> Any help would be most appreciated, thanks,
> mike

I'm not sure what you mean by "ball rings". I'm guessing ball bearings in a
"cage". If the frame & fork were not originally assembled together, then
perhaps you have a compatibility problem. The "headset" is the set of 2
bearings that the fork swivels on. The frame has "cups" pressed into the top
and bottom of the "headtube". The fork has a "crown race" pressed on to the
"steer tube". You may have a mismatch between the crown race and bottom cup.
You may also be putting one or both of the "ball rings" upside down. Just
guessing...

07-17-2004, 11:04 AM

"mike anderson" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
>
> I am building my first bike ever, a mountain bike and, since this is a
> learning experience, I am using mostly inexpensive used parts together
> with a Crescent aluminum frame.
>
> The problem is that there is a play between the suspension fork (SR
> Suntour) and the frame, I estimate it to about a 4 mm play. What could
> be done about it, are thicker ball rings the solution?
>
> Any help would be most appreciated, thanks,
> mike

I'm not sure what you mean by "ball rings". I'm guessing ball bearings in a
"cage". If the frame & fork were not originally assembled together, then
perhaps you have a compatibility problem. The "headset" is the set of 2
bearings that the fork swivels on. The frame has "cups" pressed into the top
and bottom of the "headtube". The fork has a "crown race" pressed on to the
"steer tube". You may have a mismatch between the crown race and bottom cup.
You may also be putting one or both of the "ball rings" upside down. Just
guessing...

07-17-2004, 11:04 AM

"mike anderson" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
>
> I am building my first bike ever, a mountain bike and, since this is a
> learning experience, I am using mostly inexpensive used parts together
> with a Crescent aluminum frame.
>
> The problem is that there is a play between the suspension fork (SR
> Suntour) and the frame, I estimate it to about a 4 mm play. What could
> be done about it, are thicker ball rings the solution?
>
> Any help would be most appreciated, thanks,
> mike

I'm not sure what you mean by "ball rings". I'm guessing ball bearings in a
"cage". If the frame & fork were not originally assembled together, then
perhaps you have a compatibility problem. The "headset" is the set of 2
bearings that the fork swivels on. The frame has "cups" pressed into the top
and bottom of the "headtube". The fork has a "crown race" pressed on to the
"steer tube". You may have a mismatch between the crown race and bottom cup.
You may also be putting one or both of the "ball rings" upside down. Just
guessing...