Those are the remains of using a pressure washer on critical components like the headset bearings.
Raspry on
Might just be old dirt that’s washing out with the rain. If everything feels normal I wouldn’t worry.
OrmTheBearSlayer on
Looks like rust but it could just be mud.
It might be worth while checking your headset bearings.
mrbioni on
There’s only one place where it could be from: headset bearing.
Since normally nothing should leak out, as you already pointed out, something’s wrong with your headset, either if it’s rust or general grime. I would recommend servicing the headset, regreasing or changing it, before it fails while riding and damaging other components.
Pleepleus83 on
Looks like rusty water stains.
No-Sherbet8709 on
Rust. Take headset apart, check bearings feel ok (they prob will) wipe everything clean, grease and reassemble. Easy job with just an Allen key or 2, should be a million guides on YouTube on how to reassemble with correct preload, which is pretty much the only thing you can get wrong.
D1N-VI3S3L on
The problem is not that mustard comming out of your headdtube.
The problem is how that mustard that gets in there!
Get sausages! Get grease! Do not mix!
Take apart headset – wipe it clean with sausages – enjoy sausages – where once was mustard put some grease!
Enjoy lasting headset!
Niko_Kanairo_254 on
Get the headset checked… If indeed these are rust stains, you’ll need to understand whether they’re from the steel frame, bearings or steerer tube
rogueconstant77 on
Headset is really easy to service once you have done it a few times. You just need allen keys and finish line bearing grease. Do it every 6 months and replace the bearings when they are worn out
The Chemical Reaction: Iron loses electrons (oxidation) and oxygen gains electrons (reduction) in the presence of water, forming hydrated iron oxides.
Hagenaar on
Your steerer tube, the part of the fork that goes up through the frame, is an untreated steel tube. Some water has gotten in there, rusted the metal and is now dribbling out.
Unlikely to be a safety issue, but if dirty water has flushed through the lower headset bearing, it could want service to extend life. When the fork is out, the steerer can be coated with a thin layer of grease or other rust protectant.
azbod2 on
The most usual cause of this is that some damaged lower bearings in the headset have been grinding away and rusting, and now some water has got in and washed it out. So yes, it is a sign that likely something is damaged inside. It is somewhat common, though. On the plus side, this bearing doesn’t fully rotate, so it can last a long time in a sub optimal condition, but if it feels like the steering is getting affected, then ots more important to get it looked at quickly. If done proactively enough, sometimes a single bearing can be replaced in the race but often there is scoring of multiple surfaces. Still a lot can be done with a good clean and some fresh bearings.
Lef_RSA on
You have very cheap fork. It is made only to look like a fork. Inside it have nothing but coils. No seals no damper, nothing. You can immediately spot this type of forks by having steel lower legs. Even cheap real forks having aluminum lower legs, high_end ones- magnesium. Maybe headtube welded at the bottom and it collects water and damaging headset with it.
If you’re using your bike actively please consider to change that fork to something working and safe. From Suntour for example.
14 Comments
Those are the remains of using a pressure washer on critical components like the headset bearings.
Might just be old dirt that’s washing out with the rain. If everything feels normal I wouldn’t worry.
Looks like rust but it could just be mud.
It might be worth while checking your headset bearings.
There’s only one place where it could be from: headset bearing.
Since normally nothing should leak out, as you already pointed out, something’s wrong with your headset, either if it’s rust or general grime. I would recommend servicing the headset, regreasing or changing it, before it fails while riding and damaging other components.
Looks like rusty water stains.
Rust. Take headset apart, check bearings feel ok (they prob will) wipe everything clean, grease and reassemble. Easy job with just an Allen key or 2, should be a million guides on YouTube on how to reassemble with correct preload, which is pretty much the only thing you can get wrong.
The problem is not that mustard comming out of your headdtube.
The problem is how that mustard that gets in there!
Get sausages! Get grease! Do not mix!
Take apart headset – wipe it clean with sausages – enjoy sausages – where once was mustard put some grease!
Enjoy lasting headset!
Get the headset checked… If indeed these are rust stains, you’ll need to understand whether they’re from the steel frame, bearings or steerer tube
Headset is really easy to service once you have done it a few times. You just need allen keys and finish line bearing grease. Do it every 6 months and replace the bearings when they are worn out
https://youtu.be/pARonM0tFpM
The Chemical Reaction: Iron loses electrons (oxidation) and oxygen gains electrons (reduction) in the presence of water, forming hydrated iron oxides.
Your steerer tube, the part of the fork that goes up through the frame, is an untreated steel tube. Some water has gotten in there, rusted the metal and is now dribbling out.
Unlikely to be a safety issue, but if dirty water has flushed through the lower headset bearing, it could want service to extend life. When the fork is out, the steerer can be coated with a thin layer of grease or other rust protectant.
The most usual cause of this is that some damaged lower bearings in the headset have been grinding away and rusting, and now some water has got in and washed it out. So yes, it is a sign that likely something is damaged inside. It is somewhat common, though. On the plus side, this bearing doesn’t fully rotate, so it can last a long time in a sub optimal condition, but if it feels like the steering is getting affected, then ots more important to get it looked at quickly. If done proactively enough, sometimes a single bearing can be replaced in the race but often there is scoring of multiple surfaces. Still a lot can be done with a good clean and some fresh bearings.
You have very cheap fork. It is made only to look like a fork. Inside it have nothing but coils. No seals no damper, nothing. You can immediately spot this type of forks by having steel lower legs. Even cheap real forks having aluminum lower legs, high_end ones- magnesium. Maybe headtube welded at the bottom and it collects water and damaging headset with it.
If you’re using your bike actively please consider to change that fork to something working and safe. From Suntour for example.