Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Bicycle Mechanics
Reload this Page >

Is it bad to have the top headset tube rising above the stem?

Notices
Bicycle Mechanics Broken bottom bracket? Tacoed wheel? If you're having problems with your bicycle, or just need help fixing a flat, drop in here for the latest on bicycle mechanics & bicycle maintenance.

Is it bad to have the top headset tube rising above the stem?

Old 05-07-07, 02:34 AM
  #1  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 185
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Is it bad to have the top headset tube rising above the stem?

I bought a used kestrel frame and it has an carbon fork....the part where you clamp on a stem is carbon. I've read that you don't use a hacksaw to cut carbon and I kind of want to leave it alone. Is it considered cheap or amateur to have some space on the top above the stem? I won't be using a spacer so that means there's a gap above the stem making it not perfectly flush.

And another question. The frame came with a king headset. The fork is attached. But on the top I guess I'm missing the cap I see on all bikes. The round top thing (metal) with the screw in the middle... Is this an expensive part to replace and can I get it just by itself? So basically looking down on the tube there's empty space and nothing covering the top but I still have a fork attached to the frame.
registered usar is offline  
Old 05-07-07, 02:48 AM
  #2  
Yeeehah
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Auckland NZ
Posts: 37

Bikes: Carrera Duke, Bauer tandem

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
steerer queries

Hi there Registered
The little cap on top of the steerer not only keeps rubbish and water and nose drippings out of the fork, it is also used to provide the slight preload necessary on the headset bearings before the stem is tightened on the tube. So without the cap you can't do anything with the stem without losing this preload. They are not expensive. They often come with replacement headset bearings. Get your LBS to cut the top of the tube off or alternatively you may want to check your bike fit and install a spacer ring or two under the stem to get the stem at the correct height relative to the seat. This will take up the extra. In other words don't be to quick to cut it off. You can't stick it back on again. Enjoy the bike.
huffergoat is offline  
Old 05-07-07, 02:51 AM
  #3  
Senior Member
 
Tapeworm21's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Berkeley
Posts: 2,265

Bikes: 2010 Tarmac SL, 2013 Fairdale Weekender, 2013 Fairdale Coaster, 1995 Specialized M2 Pro, 1972 Schwinn Heavy Duty, 2014 Surley Long Haul Trucker

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Originally Posted by registered usar
I bought a used kestrel frame and it has an carbon fork....the part where you clamp on a stem is carbon. I've read that you don't use a hacksaw to cut carbon and I kind of want to leave it alone. Is it considered cheap or amateur to have some space on the top above the stem? I won't be using a spacer so that means there's a gap above the stem making it not perfectly flush.
Not at all. How much is sticking up though? I see lots of bikes with spacers above the stem, it makes selling the fork easier later on. If you don't put spacers above your stem with the fork tube sticking out, please don't ride your bike. You will die on turn 1. You want the spacers to go about 1-2 mm above the carbon fork tube.

And another question. The frame came with a king headset. The fork is attached. But on the top I guess I'm missing the cap I see on all bikes. The round top thing (metal) with the screw in the middle... Is this an expensive part to replace and can I get it just by itself? So basically looking down on the tube there's empty space and nothing covering the top but I still have a fork attached to the frame.
Your LBS will have these. Price depends. Just don't use a star nut.
Tapeworm21 is offline  
Old 05-07-07, 07:18 AM
  #4  
Senior Member
 
bellweatherman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Austin
Posts: 2,104

Bikes: Too many to count

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Don't listen to the above comment that you'll die on turn 1 if you cut your steerer tube flush with the top of the stem. Stupid. Keep a little bit of extra above your stem, in case later on you want to raise your stem. However, it's no less safe to cut of the excess and have the steerer tube flush with the stem.
bellweatherman is offline  
Old 05-07-07, 09:56 AM
  #5  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 1,221

Bikes: Niner RLT 9 RDO, Gunnar Sport, Soma Saga, Workswell WCBR-146

Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 114 Post(s)
Liked 19 Times in 19 Posts
I dunno about dying on turn 1, but otherwise I agree with Tapeworm21 and huffergoat. You need a little clearance between the top of the stem and the steerer tube. When you screw in the top cap, it needs to press on the stem and spacers in order to preload the headset bearings. If the steerer is too long, the cap will butt up against the steerer tube instead of pressing on the stem and spacers, and the headset bearings will likely be too loose (which could affect handling). This is the reason for putting spacers above the stem. It lifts the cap up above the steerer and preserves the cap's function of compressing the headset bearings. Depending on the shape of the top cap I suppose it may work if the steerer is flush with the stem, or it may not. Best to stick with the stem and/or headset manufacturers specs. Remember that the steerer tube itself may rise a few mm as you tighten the cap so take that into account (especially if you've just removed and reinstalled the fork and the headset bearings aren't firmly seated yet). If it's already flush while the fork is still loose and wobbly, definitely give it a spacer or two.

Remember to leave the stem loose as you adjust the top cap. Once you clamp it down it holds everything in place. It's impossible to adjust the headset bearings while the stem is clamped down.

By the way, if you want to preserve the bling factor, you can order a Chris King top cap, and even spacers, directly from their website (the spacers are pretty expensive though). Otherwise, generics of the correct size will work fine.

Last edited by Metaluna; 05-07-07 at 10:05 AM.
Metaluna is offline  
Old 05-07-07, 05:07 PM
  #6  
Senior Member
 
bellweatherman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Austin
Posts: 2,104

Bikes: Too many to count

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
No. It's definitely ok to cut the steerer flush with the top of the stem. It is no less safe.
bellweatherman is offline  
Old 05-07-07, 06:18 PM
  #7  
Prefers Cicero
 
cooker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Toronto
Posts: 12,870

Bikes: 1984 Trek 520; 2007 Bike Friday NWT; misc others

Mentioned: 86 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3939 Post(s)
Liked 112 Times in 87 Posts
I think Tapeworm21 meant if the unprotected steerer end is sticking up you might get impaled on it.

Last edited by cooker; 05-07-07 at 07:17 PM.
cooker is offline  
Old 05-07-07, 06:54 PM
  #8  
JRA...
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: philly
Posts: 839

Bikes: trek 520 & 736, DeRosa Professional, Fuji Professional, Raleigh International 3-speed, Saronni (any info people?), Humber 3-speed, Raleigh Sports, Carlton Grand Prix coming soon!

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
if the stem sits flush with the top of the steerer tube, the star nut or compression plug cannot do its job.
dafydd is offline  
Old 05-07-07, 07:47 PM
  #9  
Senior Member
 
bellweatherman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Austin
Posts: 2,104

Bikes: Too many to count

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Originally Posted by dafydd
if the stem sits flush with the top of the steerer tube, the star nut or compression plug cannot do its job.
uh, yes it can.
bellweatherman is offline  
Old 05-07-07, 08:07 PM
  #10  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 6,900
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by bellweatherman
uh, yes it can.
Depends on the bottom profile of the top cap. Some work this way some do not.

OP = there is nothing wrong with the setup you have suggested. Allows you to see how you really want the stem to be positioned. If your unsure take it to your LBS for some ideas. I have a Titus carbon frame set up this way right now because I want to make sure the position is correct before the fork steerer is cut. FSA top cap and compression plug is a real nice one for carbon steerer tubes. Good luck.
oilman_15106 is offline  
Old 05-07-07, 11:41 PM
  #11  
Senior Member
 
bellweatherman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Austin
Posts: 2,104

Bikes: Too many to count

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Originally Posted by oilman_15106
Depends on the bottom profile of the top cap. Some work this way some do not.

OP = there is nothing wrong with the setup you have suggested. Allows you to see how you really want the stem to be positioned. If your unsure take it to your LBS for some ideas. I have a Titus carbon frame set up this way right now because I want to make sure the position is correct before the fork steerer is cut. FSA top cap and compression plug is a real nice one for carbon steerer tubes. Good luck.
ahh yes, now that I think of it, you are right. For ex: if you have a Chris Kind headset then your CK top cap will protrude a little bit more than most top caps. So with a CK top cap, if you wanted your feek steerer flush with the top of the stem, you have to cut the steerer ever so slightly lower than flush. Maybe 1 mm or so. Then, the protruded part of the top cap goes into the stem snugly and you have a fork steerer that looks flush with the stem.
bellweatherman is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.