Zero 10x Electric Scooter HEADSET Adjustment!

Learn how to adjust the pesky headset on your Zero 10x, or 10x variant (Varla, Apollo, Turbowheel) Electric Scooter. Ride safer and have more fun!!
Timecodes:
0:00 Intro
0:49 Tools
1:33 Setting Up
2:05 Getting Started
2:40 Remove Stem
3:27 Photo of stem Parts
4:50 Remove 2.5mm Grub Screws
5:42 8mm Lower Bolt Removal
6:52 Remove Top Cap
9:01 Loosen Headset
11:14 Headset Tension Adjustment
12:13 Re-Assembly
13:44 Conclusion

[@synkoptik5]

I have one of these and this tutorial came in handy for I never knew about it Im a complete noob at this. Thanks again.

[@ElectronSurfer]

Hey I am happy to help out, some little things can really make this scooter ride a lot better. Especially the ones when the headset is too tight.

[@R60us]

Thank you. Your directions were spot on!

[@ElectronSurfer]

Awesome, good to hear, thanks!

[@JPilot2]

G'day! Nice job! I too, like using a steering dampener! By the way... Enjoyed the video! I hope you'll continue on sharing more DIY's (Repairs/Modified, or Upgrades) for Electric Scooters! Thank you! "Ride on!" Cheers! 😊🛴🛠❤️

[@ElectronSurfer]

Thank you, I plan to do more of these for sure.

[@AbRob007]

Nice , thanks so much for an informative video!

[@ElectronSurfer]

You are welcome, thanks for watching!

[@stevenmelling6068]

Cheers just brought one and this is just what I need

[@ElectronSurfer]

Happy to help out! Thanks!

[@Samlol23_drrich]

This video gets a 10/10. Thank you!

[@ElectronSurfer]

Thank you!

[@ronniezhou5276]

Thanks man! Your video is so helpful!!! Love u!!

[@ElectronSurfer]

Awesome, happy to help! Thanks

[@Diegokusaka]

Great Video Man!!

[@ElectronSurfer]

Appreciate it! Thanks!

[@nitrosavy]

Great vids, thanks 👍🏻

[@ElectronSurfer]

Thanks so much!

[@GrantEllman]

Thanks for this! Got mine feeling a lot better now. Quick tip for anyone trying to loosen those bolts, spray a little silicone (liquid wrench, penetrating oil) carefully in the stuck bits and let sit for a moment before trying to loosen. Be sure to wipe that stuff off with some iso before reinstalling so that it doesn’t act as a un-thread locker. Lol.

[@Larry-xf3qt]

GREAT VIDEO can’t believe this doesn’t have more views. Hope I never gotta do this job. I got a Carla eagle one and my stem makes a cracking noise please make a vid or message me back thx.

[@ElectronSurfer]

@Hu Mungus, thank you! I have had good luck with stem creaks buying a cheap tube (usually under $5) of white lithium grease. Try a little dab anywhere along the stem that there are two pieces bolted together. You will usually know right away when you got the right spot. Thanks!

[@gotahave]

You are awesome. I just got my Varla eagle one 3 weeks ago and I have been complaining about the stiff grabbing steering in center and off to R and L about 10degrees from center. Dangerous to ride this way. They said just put a spanner wrench on this ( who has one) and sent me a video of a guy putting his foot on side of scooter and just turning spanner wrench. I have 14” channel lock pliers and hung on that piece you need to turn snd no good. Was going to bring to shop and have them figure out what to do. I then hit utube again for the 20th time and found your site. Your a life saver. I’ll try tomorrow and see if I can do it. Also I purchased the seat with my Eagle( need to lower my center of gravity to old to stand doing 30mph) snd cannot get that to grip the sides of the deck no matter how I try. Can you show maybe a video on that possibly? Thanks for your hard work and excellent video.

[@ElectronSurfer]

Hey, please let me know if you got the headset to loosen a little. From the factory they can overtorque since they use a lot of air tools. I don't have a seat to show, sorry.

[@wayneberryment4988]

I just got my Varla Eagle One and same issue. I wrote to them for support on this. It's new we shouldn't have to be doing this fix. They should send one out and then they can fix it when they get the bad one back.

[@DJT.A.Z]

GREAT!

[@ElectronSurfer]

Good to see you Taz, thanks!

[@justinsarchive4111]

Is this the same for the ghost?

[@geestang2662]

Thanks for that video.. how is it in high speed now that you loosen it alittle

[@ElectronSurfer]

I don't ride all that fast but the low speed handling is much improved. Thanks!

[@michaeltenorio1686]

Hi did you noticed on the rear shock if there is wobble it's between the shock and pin where the shock is inserted, when you lift up the footrest you will hear the sound of it

[@ElectronSurfer]

I don't notice any side to side wobble, it is common for the slack of the shock to come out when pulling it up and make some noise.

[@aerofpv2109]

Mine feels just right but widening my bars to 740mm made steering feel more natural.

[@ElectronSurfer]

Dialing in the bars makes a huge difference, thanks!

[@newera745]

What is the size of that big bolt? I have a broken one in the shaft and I can’t find it the bolt any where

[@islamforce5169]

Where you found it me too please ??

[@ulvfje]

How many millimeters is the spanner wrench? And can I use the same to adjust the suspensions?

[@ElectronSurfer]

Per Park Tool "The three-hook end will fit 3-notch lockrings with a maximum outside diameter of 46mm, and minor diameter (in the notches) of 40mm" Yes I use the same wrench for both.

[@rockefelleragent1357]

Sorry for the off-topic but do you know where I can buy just the frame of this scooter (with suspension)? Planning to build a scooter from this platform.

[@ElectronSurfer]

I really don't know, sometimes Aliexpress will have frames. If you find one please let me know.

[@duyphan4362]

whats size of the spanner wrench you used ? thanks for the video.

[@ElectronSurfer]

It is 46mm, but I am sure other's would work. Here is the Amazon link amzn.to/3Sgji3v.

[@duyphan4362]

@@ElectronSurfer Thanks

[@7KingCobra7]

I think o would prefer tension, kinda like a steering dampener

[@ElectronSurfer]

It doesn't actually work like a damper when it is too tight. There is a little centering point and you will have to push it past it with force and it creates a very tiring way to ride. It is a little hard to explain but I had someone ride the same scooter separated by 2 weeks before and after I did the adjustment. They hated it the first time and bought it the second! A good adjustable (key) damper that would connect to any scooter that would be great.

[@_CloseR_]

Zero 10X or Vsett 10+ which one should i bought?

[@DanceySteveYNWA]

Zero 10x 60v

[@ElectronSurfer]

I think this choice is kind of tricky with multiple battery options on both scooters. If you want 60v speed and acceleration I would definitely go Vsett 10+, if not then narrowing down the range you want, portability, etc. The Vsett has some nice upgrades but not all of them are doing super well. The turn signals on the Vsett are nice but I have noticed the sensors easily pop out of the grips and there were some bad batches of Vsett displays.

[@RickyD1968]

Corrected me if I'm wrong but don't you want it tight so you don't get high speed wobble ?

[@ElectronSurfer]

Surprisingly you are not the first to think this. The headset is the wrong place. and not a safe way. to try to combat speed wobble. Bearings should move freely and when the steering has sticking points, as it does when too tight, trouble is likely. If you ride fast enough to feel wobble, I'd first dial in your suspension and then look at dampers. thanks for asking!

[@RickyD1968]

Cool thank you I just got mine today can't wait to ride got all my accessories on made sure all bolts were tight and checked all the motors, brakes and lights and all is good to go.

[@jaycarl1562]

@@RickyD1968 How was you experience with this scooter?

[@CaptainSpacedOut]

Ive had a popping sound coming from the stem, im going to take this stem apart and see whats wrong with it.

[@ElectronSurfer]

I can't really think what that could be, check for any sort of movement.

[@CaptainSpacedOut]

​@ElectronSurfer turns out it was the bolt under the head bracket. But now I'm taking the head bracket off to stiffen my steering. It's one of those once you fix something you realize now something else needs fixing. Then again I've had it for 2 years and never done maintenance once.

[@andrewwhite1065]

Why would you need to adjust a tight headset which is supposed to help stabilize the front end at speed? Zero now sell an after market steering dampener and a beefy double clamp for the lower part of the stem.... again to stabilize the front end at upwards of 70km/h at least on my 60v version. Sure it's nice to have a light feeling headset if you are doing multiple tight turns at under 10km/h.

[@ElectronSurfer]

A tight headset is not the same as a steering stabilizer. A stabilizer provides consistent resistance a tight headset will tend to be tighter at different parts of rotation. What happens with these scooters is you have to basically force the handlebars to turn. I was a dealer for these scooters and the headset tension would range from correct, to too barely able to turn, to dangerously loose.

[@DanceySteveYNWA]

I would have used the opportunity to put some grease in the headset

[@ElectronSurfer]

I would advise caution when greasing sealed bearings like these appear to be, if could be fine but it could break down the grease inside. Make sure you are using a compatible grease if you go this route.

[@Indo432]

This scooter has to many issues I pass👎

[@ElectronSurfer]

Totally agree!

[@ElectronSurfer]

I don't think it really has that many issues as the basic scooter is used in so many models, (Varla, Mantis, Turbowheel). No scooter is perfect but the issues I've seen on the 10x have been pretty easily corrected. Thanks for chiming in though!