Headset Help - Kalkhoff Sahel Compact

[Jonah]

Just back from a ride and noticed a lot of play in the headset. Upon investigation there seems about 5mm of play which seems pretty serious. The Kalkhoff manual says I should take it to a specialist shop but I thought I'd try here first. Clips on Youtube show tightening a bolt from the top of the headset but no such bolt exists on my bike. The only thing I can see is a ring at the base (underneath the speedlifter stem). I don't have a tool that fits this ring but using a large adjustable spanner it doesn't seem to want to move. Can any of you techie wizards tell me if I'm missing something obvious or doing something stupid.

Thanks.

 

[Thakery]

Hi Jonah,
I have the same problem. Did you ever solve it?

Regards Thakery

 

[flecc]

When the handlebar stem is folded, is there an Allen bolt head beneath that can be tightened to adjust out the slack? The photo below is of a similar folding stem showing the Allen bolt in the centre of the lower half and centre of the photo that tightens the bearings:

 

[Thakery]

Great. Thanks a lot flecc.

 

[Jonah]

Not a folding stem on the Kalkhoff. I did fix it but I can't remember for certain how I did it in the end. There is no bolt from the top. I think the horizontal bolt at the base of the height adjuster needed to be loosened, then the ring beneath that could be moved. It was a bit trial and error but it worked and it's been ok since then. No shop or mechanic was any help at all and nothing I could find on the speed shifter system was much use either. I'm sorry I can't be any more specific, it was quite a while ago now, but with a bot a fiddling it is sortable. Let me know how you get on. I'll have a poke around if you get stuck to see if I can jog my memory.

 

[Jonah]

For anyone interested the speed lifter handlebars look like this...

 

[Deleted member 4366]

The thin hex ring nut under the clamp is the adjuster. Normally they have something else to stop the nut from coming undone, but I don't see a locking ring. It probably uses the quick-release clamp, so, loosen the clamp and lift the bars up a bit if the height is adjustable. Leave the clamp loose. Screw down the ring-nut until the play in the steering just disappears. Check that the steering works smoothly from side to side, then lock up the quick-release clamp.