headset

When you want to overhaul your threaded headset, remove the handlebar stem and use a wrench for the locknut. Remove the spacers and the top race. Check the races for pitting. Remove fork and bearings. The bearings are normally in casings. Check these for pitting too (though because they are cheap, you could just as well buy new ones). Clean everything. 

Once you've checked what is still usable (hopefully everything), turn the fork over and start with the bottom first. Put in grease, your bearings and then the fork. Secure the fork to the frame and flip the bike over, right side up.

Repeat with the top. Grease everything: locknut, bearings, anything that has a thread. Put your spacers on, followed by the locknut. Wipe off any excess grease that may still be on the bike.

Wrench the locknut tight and then test out your fork. If it doesn't turn smoothly, you'll have to see where you went wrong with previous steps.

A headset is basically the piece that holds the fork to the frame of a bike, thereby allowing for steering. A sealed bearing headset normally has a plastic or rubber gasket to protect the insides from dirt.

There are a lot of special tools you can use for the installation. If you don’t want to shell out a grip of change for these tools, which may be a little out of the reach of your wallet, there are cheaper alternatives (a wooden block and a hammer, for instance). Worst comes to worst, you can always ask your local mechanic or read some bike books for tool cheats.

Park Tools makes these:

Fork crown facing tool

Headset facing tool

Headset press

Digital caliper

Hammer

Grease

A headset is basically the piece that holds the fork to the frame of a bike, thereby allowing for steering. A sealed bearing headset normally has a plastic or rubber gasket to protect the insides from dirt.

There are a lot of special tools you can use for the installation. If you don’t want to shell out a grip of change for these tools, which may be a little out of the reach of your wallet, there are cheaper alternatives (a wooden block and a hammer, for instance). Worst comes to worst, you can always ask your local mechanic or read some bike books for tool cheats.

Park Tools makes these:

Fork crown facing tool

Headset facing tool

Headset press

Digital caliper

Hammer

Grease

A headset is basically the piece that holds the fork to the frame of a bike, thereby allowing for steering. A sealed bearing headset normally has a plastic or rubber gasket to protect the insides from dirt.

There are a lot of special tools you can use for the installation. If you don’t want to shell out a grip of change for these tools, which may be a little out of the reach of your wallet, there are cheaper alternatives (a wooden block and a hammer, for instance). Worst comes to worst, you can always ask your local mechanic or read some bike books for tool cheats.

Park Tools makes these:

1. Fork crown facing tool
2. Headtube facing tool
3. Headset press
4. Digital caliper
5. Hammer
6. Grease

This is an early episode where Jim goes through parts of the bicycle.  Jim starts with the front wheel, rim, tire, tube, spokes and hub, then moves on to the fork and brake and brake calipers. 

Next he checks out the handlebars, brake levers, and bar tape.  On to the stem, and headset which transitions into the frame, which consists of the headtube, top tube, down tube, seat tube, chain stay and seat stay. 

Which brings us to the seatpost and saddle.  Moving on to the drivetrain made up of the crank, chain, cassette, rear derailleur and front derailleur.  What allows the crank to turn is the bottom bracket and that's pretty much what we're working with.  See you on the road, bitches!

Joe's much less suave, and much more annoying rendition of "Part's of a Bicycle":