What have I done?

Nikonos

Hi, this is my first post as a new member to Bike Radar.
I am new to road biking and recently took delivery of a Specialized Roubaix Elite. The LBS flipped the stem for me to give a more comfortable riding position, all was well until I decided to try the stem in the standard position.
How difficult can it be I thought to myself. Just a few allen bolts and we're there!
Took the bike for it's first run since doing the job tonight and the first bit of bumpy road I came across the whole bike started to shake and wobble around the stem area. Everything round the collar underneath the stem feels loose and if I bounce the bike very gently with my hand it makes a clunking noise and feels very wobbly.
The allen nuts all feel tight.
I will obviously take it back to LBS and have them look at it but I would prefer to fix it myself if I can! :roll: :roll:
I am not very technically minded. Have i done something wrong? :oops:

sloppyschleckonds

What did you do with the cap and bolt on top of the stem?

anto164

right, dead easy..

Slacken off a couple of turns the stem bolts.

Then slowly tighten the bolt that is at the end of the steerer, i.e. the top cap one in the pic below



Tighten it until the play is gone. By this, i mean with the front brake on, gently rock the bike forward and backwards. There should be no play. Put your hand on where the forks and frame meet to feel this.

You know that this is tight enough by noticing that the play is gone, but not too tight as to start to restrict turning the bars.

Then make sure the stem is straight, and nip up the stem bolts.

Double check again with everything tight that there is nothing loose, nor is there any play. Double check again by rocking the bike forward and back whilst the front brake is on.

Make sure the handlebar bolts are tight. Don't forget that when there are 4 bolts, you should tighten in diagonals, i.e. top left, then bottom right, then top right, then bottom left, and repeat until the correct torque is attained.

That should sort it.

Nikonos

Fixed them back on but not too tight. The bolt underneath the cap seems a little slack, should it be very tight?

Nikonos

Thanks Anto, will try that. Thanks for the diagram. My last post overlapped with yours. Did you see the bit about the bolt underneath the cap being slack?

Nikonos

Thanks Anto, will try that. Thanks for the diagram. My last post overlapped with yours. Did you see the bit about the bolt underneath the cap being slack?

anto164

bolt under the cap? Is this the top cap bolt? This should be fairly tight, but not tight. It's so hard to describe on the internet.

BTW

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1P4dYsxazTU

Nikonos

All sorted and good as new. Thanks Anto for all your help