Cycling Equipment · Public discussion

semi-emergency: how to tighten threadless stem?

Started by skwanch · · Last activity · 3 posts · 918 views

← Back to Cycling Equipment

Thread details

What we know about this thread

Original section
Cycling Equipment
Published
11 August 2004
Last activity
12 August 2004
Original author
skwanch
Posts
3
Discussion status
Public discussion
Total views
918
Views / 30 days
0

The navigation and discussion metadata provide context. Posts remain in their original chronological order.

Showing posts 1–3 of 3
Posts remain in their original chronological order.

Text size
  1. Original post
    skwanch
    Archived post
    #1

    I recently had the front end of my bike rebuilt, and now have a carbon fork, and a chris king threadless headset. This morning on my ride in to work, I noticed a lot of play in the front end. Closer inspection showed me that I have a small (1-2mm) gap betw the 'caps' for the fork (pardon if I'm not using the right terminology here . . . I mean the parts that touch the headset to keep the fork from sliding up and down) and the headset.

    How do I tighten this? I tried tightening the allen bolt in the top, but that just tightens/loosens the headset cap . . .

    hayalp! I've got 13mi to ride back home, and the front end is feeling more sketchy with each passing second . . . :eek:
    Thx!!

    Report
  2. dhk
    Archived post
    #2

    You've got to loosen the stem clamp bolts, since the stem is what locks the bearing adjustment in place, not the cap. After you loosen the stem bolts, tighten the cap to a specified torque value to preload the bearings. Instructions on mine say 22 in-lbs.

    Then, you retorque the stem clamping bolts. Make sure the stem is tight enough so that you can't twist the handlebars without moving the fork. If you're not confident, don't ride the bike...having the stem and bars twist or pull off could ruin your whole day.

    If your fork was installed properly, this shouldn't happen. When you have the cap off, check to see that the top of the steer tube is about 3mm (1/8 inch) below the stem. If the steer tube is stick up past the stem, or way below it, I'd say don't ride, and go back to your LBS.

    Report
  3. ThrillBilly
    Archived post
    #3

    this is a link to a complete explanation of the adjustment at park tools site:

    link

    BE ADVISED- on some types of headsets (such as mine), the cap has no function in setting the bearing load as mentioned above, and is truly only a cap.

    there is also lots of info at the chris king site.

    Report

Keep exploring

Browse the sectionCycling Equipment Return to CyclingForumsStart at the home page Search discussionsFind another thread

Active in the last 60 minutes

Active in this thread

0 users · 0 guests ·0 bots ·0 total

No signed-in users are active right now.

No known search crawlers active right now.