Headset collar tightening?

[Fordulike]

Checking my bike today, I found the top collar on the headset to be loose.

This is the actual heatset:


I didn't have a big enough spanner, so I used a pair of mole grips. It's tighter than it was before, but I didn't want to apply too much torque in case I damaged the collar.

Two questions:

1) Is there a standard size for these collars, as I want to buy the correct spanner.

2) Is there a procedure to tightening the two collars correctly?

 

[Alan Quay]

I always use two adjustable's, but I'm an ape.

Slacken the top one, tighten the bottom one until play is gone but bars move freely. Hold bottom one steady, nip up top one. Check, 're-adjust if necessary.

 

[Fordulike]

I always use two adjustable's, but I'm an ape.

Slacken the top one, tighten the bottom one until play is gone but bars move freely. Hold bottom one steady, nip up top one. Check, 're-adjust if necessary.

Lovely, thanks Mike

 

[Alan Quay]

Only snag is the bottom one is often very thin. Swan neck pliers and one adjustable might be better, but the right tools are available on EBay for £10. Search for 'headset tool'.

 

[Fordulike]

Only snag is the bottom one is often very thin. Swan neck pliers and one adjustable might be better, but the right tools are available on EBay for £10. Search for 'headset tool'.

This one?

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/tools-maintenance/tools/ice-toolz-4-in-1-headset-wrench

 

[Alan Quay]

Yes, that and an ajustable/swan necks would do it.

 

[Fordulike]

So, if these two collars were to become loose, would there be a risk of the handlebar stem from coming out?

 

[Alan Quay]

Unlikely. It would become unridable before it fell apart.

These two nuts hold the fork steerer tube into the frame. The handle bars (connected to a quill stem) goes down inside this tube. This shows the quill stem:

 

[Fordulike]

Thanks again Mike