Steerer too long

dannyfrankszzz said:

The steerer tube I have is slightly too long by about a 10-20mm. No
bother I thought - I'll just leave it, and place the stem clamp over
the steerer and leave the excess 10-20mm of space between the top of
the stem clamp and the top cap.

You need to build up the difference using spacers, so that when you tighten
the cap, it pushes the stack (stem and spacers) down onto the headset. It's
designed so that hedset tightness is adjusted using the cap. Once you have
that set up, tighten the stem bolts and you're away.

Quoted message said:

However, when I lift the front of the bike up, the steerer is loose
inside the head tube (lateral movement), which I assume is because of
the excess length on the end of the steerer.

Yup.

Quoted message said:

So I guess the top cap fastens the stem clamp and steerer into the
headset??although I'm not exactly sure how.

Ah. Have you installed a star nut in the steerer?

Quoted message said:

I had fastened the stem clamp just above the headset, which I thought
would be sufficient securing of the steerer - if you know what I mean.

You will not get the right load (vertical) on the headset to achieve this by
tightening the stem alone.

Quoted message said:

I suppose I should just go ahead and saw off 2cm from the steerer
tube, but I'm hesitant.

Wait. Till you're sure you know what you're doing.

"dannyfrankszzz" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'm currently in the process of replacing my front forks.

The steerer tube I have is slightly too long by about a 10-20mm. No
bother I thought - I'll just leave it, and place the stem clamp over the
steerer and leave the excess 10-20mm of space between the top of the
stem clamp and the top cap.

However, when I lift the front of the bike up, the steerer is loose
inside the head tube (lateral movement), which I assume is because of
the excess length on the end of the steerer.

So I guess the top cap fastens the stem clamp and steerer into the
headset??although I'm not exactly sure how.

I had fastened the stem clamp just above the headset, which I thought
would be sufficient securing of the steerer - if you know what I mean.

I suppose I should just go ahead and saw off 2cm from the steerer tube,
but I'm hesitant.

The top cap is used to pre-load the steerer assembly, before you clamp the
stem. If you just clamp the stem without vertically preloading the
assembly, you will end up with a loose headset. Your options are to cut the
tube, or add two cm of spacer. The stem/spacers should be about 3mm above
the top of the steerer tube, so that when you screw down the top cap it's
pushing down on the stem/spacers and pulling the steerer tube upwards, if
you get the idea.

Rich

I think all I need is an extra spacer and I'm sorted.

Thanks.

--

Dan, Have a look at......

url:http://www.parktool.com/repair_help/FAQindex.shtml#headset -
Threadless...

-- That helped me understand this new fangled "ahead" system when I was
new to it.

Don't be in a hurry to cut the steerer down, and always leave a little
more length than you think you need just in case -- in case of error or
change of mind/components. 2 and 5mm spacers can be used to fine tune
height.

~PB