How do you know if you need a headset spacer?

dubcat

Hi - when do you use a headset spacer and how do you know if you need one?
Thanks,
Dub

cooldad

If your steerer tube is sticking out the top of your stem.

supersonic

yep, the spacers and stem should be about 3-5mm higher than the top of the steerer

cooldad

Steerer tube should be approx 2/3mm below the top of the stem so you can preload the headset bearings with the topcap. Spacers are used to move the stem up the steerer.

cooldad

Speedy SS fingers again. Curses. I obviously cut my steerers a bit longer.

Chunkers1980

Er shorter you mean..

cooldad

Chunkers1980 wrote:

Er shorter you mean..

No longer, so there is less distance between the top of the steerer and the top of the stem.

cooldad

But seeing as I normally cut them skew, it varies a bit anyway.

Chunkers1980

Good point - my bad - makes no odds though as the spacers could fill up below the stem.

Point everyone's trying to make is that you need some distance, just not too much as the whole thing gets weaker the more the stem sits above the steerer - leave 5mm max....

nicklouse