Hi, I have a 1" threadless fork and I'm using a Ritchey WCS stem. The
stem is 11/8" and is used with a reducer bushing. It seems that when I
use a torque wrench to properly tighten the clamp bolts, recommended
is 52-86 inch/lbs, the clamp is totally squeezed together. There is
no gap left at all. When I was running a Mutant stem with aluminum
bars, if the clamp was without a gap, it increased vibration, through
the bars.Now I'm using Easton EC90 composite drop bars.
I have tried two different reducer bushings, the stock Ritchey and the
one that came with the Mutant. Is there anything I can do to either
wrap the outer side of the bushing or increase the gap in the stem, so
that I can properyt torque it down and still have a gap?
Another question, should the steerer tube be greased or dry? I just
repacked the headset with grease and regreased the clamp bolts, as I
developed a creak, after going over a very long wooden slat bridge. It
vibrated the [censored] out of everything, including me. The bike is usually
creak and rattle free. Later in my ride today, I'm hearing this noise,
and it finally dawned on me, why it happened. Usually those little
bridges are usually about 30-40 feet, but this one had to be at least
a 100ft.
Life is Good!
Jeff