fork steerer level in stem?

ukracer

I understand that it should not fit flush with top of stem to work correctly.
I would like to raise stem height slightly so how much lower would be still a safe height?

redddraggon

Have you already flipped the stem?

ukracer

yes stem already angles up 6 degrees i think

redddraggon

As long as the top bolt of the stem is below the top of the cut steerer you should be fine.

However I'd recommend getting a new stem with a higher angle, rather than do what you intend.

maddog 2

flush is no good, as you suggest, as the top cap won't be able to preload the headset.

You just need a thin spacer, either above or below the stem - it doesn't matter which.

The thinnest I've seen are 3mm, see

Alloy;
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/eXotic-6061-Alloy ... 2ea9227884

Carbon:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/eXotic-Carbon-3mm ... 20adf75638

or you can make you own by cutting down and existing spacer. I've done this to produce 2mm spacers which do the same job.