Jazzyguy

Hey guys, I just bought a GT Oupost. Anyways for some reason I decided to tighten the top allen bolt in the center of the steering column. (I think they call it a top cap & Bolt) Anyway I tightened it pretty tight, enought to crack the "top cap".

My question is other than the fact that I messed up the top cap, could I have done any other damage to the headset at all, bearings,etc.? anyway to tell if I screwed something up. Also, I went trail riding afterwards with the top bolt back in without a peice of the top cap on.

Thanks guys

rmfnla

Why did you tighten it; was it loose?

That cap is used to adjust the headset; once the stem is tight more torque on the cap will just break it, as you've discovered.

No, you probably didn't hurt anything else and that's a cheap part to replace, which means you got lucky. It's obvious you don't know bike mechanics; this could have been a much more expensive lesson.

freeradical

This is really no biggie. This screw does not serve the same purpose as the similar-looking bolt at the top of a quill stem. That cap/screw combination is only intended to exert enough force to preload your headset bearings. You then preserve this setting and fix your fork-handlebar alignment by tightening your stem at the steerer tube. Which means.......If you were tightening this screw in order fix a loose stem, then you need to go back and do it correctly, because that didn't do it, and your stem will separate from your steerer if the only thing holding it on is a broken cap.
rmfnla is right, you got lucky. Wrenching on your own bike is easy enough, but there's no reason to assume or guess at anything. It's so easy to search the forums or go to Sheldon Brown's site, to learn how to do it correctly.

Good luck...........

Jazzyguy

Thanks guys so much for your input. I feel tons better now. I will not touch my bike again until I know what I'm doing. My last question:

Where can I get a cool loking top cap because GT does not supply them? Any advice for puting the new one on.

Thanks again

redtires

Check you LBS, there a a gazillion different top caps out there. Get an aluminum one, but just make sure you don't crank down on that one!!! They come in virtually every color of the rainbow, plus others, and there seems to be an endless number of logo's, designs and brand name's etched on them...they come in plain black and silver as well. One will run you about $10 or so. Check out Sheldon Brown's website for advice on adjustments, etc...or just use the search function here on the forum...I'm willing to be it's been covered in "bicycle mechanics" more than once.

capwater

Uh don't tighten it as much as before. Take a second and learn about the parts and pieces of headset adjustment, such as at www.parktool.com. If you haven't mucked around with your stem there will be no need to re-load the headset. Just screw on the new headset. Cheap ones can be had at any decent bike shop.

MudPie

I once saw a small analog clock that fit into the top cap space. I thought "Blackwell Research" sold it but I checked their website and it's not there anymore.

Jazzyguy

How do you reload the headset, if need be?

Mr Pantani

Preloading the headset is to tighten down onto the top bolt enough so that the headset itself is snug without any play - one way to check is to make sure the headset spacers underneath the stem aren't able to move freely. You don't need excessive force here. A tip - loosen the steerer clamp bolts before doing this; cranking on the top bolt while the stem is tightly clamped to the steerer can cause the star nut to pop out. Good luck.

capwater

Are you actually reading these replies? www.parktool.com Everything ya need to know about headsets and so much more.