just fitted new stem...help!

stueyc
stueyc Posts: 518
edited June 2008 in Workshop
cannot for the life of me remove the play on stem and forks...please help!!!

Comments

  • redvee
    redvee Posts: 11,922
    Assuming this is an Ahead/threadless set-up. If you've tightened the top cap down and there is still play then the new stem is smaller stack than your old one, measure them and add the corresponding amount of ahead spacers under the stem and retighten the top cap whilst keeping the stem clamp bolts loose. You'll have to add slightly more spacer thickness than the difference in the two stems.
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  • stueyc
    stueyc Posts: 518
    your right..it is slightly smaller....new additional spacers then redvee?
  • magliaceleste
    magliaceleste Posts: 748
    edited June 2008
    Not much info there.

    Assuming it's a regular star fangled nut/headset assembly (sorry if I'm telling you what you already know)

    1. Loosen the (probably two) bolts that attach the stem to the fork's steerer tube.
    2. Tighten the bolt on the stem cap until play is removed (put the front brake on and rock bike back and forth). Don't overdo it or you'll crush the bearings in the headset
    3. Make sure the bar/stem is straight and tighten the stem bolts

    You need to make sure you have a gap at the top of the steerer tube to the top of the stem where it clamps the steerer tube (2-3 millimetres will do).

    If you've got a fork with a carbon steerer with an expanding plug then it can vary. With my FSA one you expand the wedge with a smaller allen key then use a larger allen key to clamp the stem down. Then you'd tighten the bolts on the stem.

    Edit: Beaten to the post. Yes you can add spacers on top of the stem to ensure you have that 2-3mm gap required to remove play in the bearings.
  • redvee
    redvee Posts: 11,922
    stueyc wrote:
    your right..it is slightly smaller....new additional spacers then redvee?

    Yeah, I'd say 2 x 5mm, maybe only 1 x 5mm.
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  • stueyc
    stueyc Posts: 518
    thanks

    currently have carbon spacers..need same or can i mix?
  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    stueyc wrote:
    thanks

    currently have carbon spacers..need same or can i mix?

    You could just cut the top of the steerer off, but you can mix spacers.
    I like bikes...

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  • stueyc
    stueyc Posts: 518
    cheers..just replaced old stem and sweet as...need spacers asap

    f**king nice new carbon stem too....gutted!
  • Gr.uB
    Gr.uB Posts: 145
    A trick I saw recently was before you tighten the two bolts on the stem, lift the front wheel off the ground into a vertical position, and let the wheel fall to both left and right to see how tight your steering is. If it doesn't fall either way, then you may have it too tight.
    Loosen the top bolt a fraction and repeat.
    This method made a difference to my TCR handling ( carbon fork and steerer ).
    TCR
    MonstaThorn

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