Bicycle Mechanics - Raising the bars/stem?

I tried to raise the stem/handlebar on my bike by loosening the allen screw in the center of the stem but the stem is still held tight. The bike is a Cannondale T800 with Cannondale stem and Cane Creek S-2 headset. From looking at the Barnett manual it appeared to me all I had to do was loosen that center allen screw but its still held tight. How do I raise the stem on this bike?Thanks!

Go to www.parktool.com and fighru out if you have a threadless or threaded headset.

Is this article at all helpful?

www.timeoutdoors.com/bike/maintenance/4mtbhps01061202e.htm

Threaded stems, common on bikes before '97 to '99 when they were phased out, get "stuck" : once the bolt is loosened a bit make sure it can be moved up and down in the stem. If so then rotate the bars to break the grip and they should then be moveable up and down for a short distance. If threadless
you may need some spacers or even an extension if there is not enough grip space on the stem. Study the references above to decide which is your set up. Steve

The 2003 T800 has a threadless headset. You can't rise the bars in the way you describe, because the stem is clamped directly to the steerer of the fork. The allen screw you loosened is there to adjust the preload on the headset, and you now have to readjust it since you loosened it.

The only ways to raise the bars on a bike with a threadless headset are: 1) flip the stem (if it's one that extends from the steerer at less than a 90 degree angle); 2) replace the stem with one that has more rise; 3) buy a steerer extender, which fits over the steerer like a condom (well, it does!) and makes it longer, or 4) replace the fork and this time don't cut the steerer so short.

See http://www.parktool.com/repair_help/howfix_headthreadless.shtml
for infor on threadless headset adjustment.

Here's a picture of a threadless headset and stem. The two bolts attaching the stem to the steerer are the clear indicator that it's threadless.

RichC

If you have a quill type stem, all it needs is a good whack on the stem bolt with a rubber mallet........that'll jarr it loose....

Originally posted by Rich Clark
The 2003 T800 has a threadless headset. You can't rise the bars in the way you describe, because the stem is clamped directly to the steerer of the fork. The allen screw you loosened is there to adjust the preload on the headset, and you now have to readjust it since you loosened it.

The only ways to raise the bars on a bike with a threadless headset are: 1) flip the stem (if it's one that extends from the steerer at less than a 90 degree angle); 2) replace the stem with one that has more rise; 3) buy a steerer extender, which fits over the steerer like a condom (well, it does!) and makes it longer, or 4) replace the fork and this time don't cut the steerer so short.

See http://www.parktool.com/repair_help/howfix_headthreadless.shtml
for infor on threadless headset adjustment.

Here's a picture of a threadless headset and stem. The two bolts attaching the stem to the steerer are the clear indicator that it's threadless.

RichC

Thanks for setting me strait Rich-again:)

Thats the last time I ASSUME anything concerning my bike and how to make an adjustment. I did retighten the allen screw in the center of the stem to about the tension it was before I loosened it and I'am bringing my bike back to the LBS to have them raise the stem/handlebars and check that center screw.

"Everybody learns everything for the first time at least once."
-me :)

RichC