Originally Posted by
powitte
Checked it all. And, I don't see why it needs to be >1cm. As long as the slack it takes up when tightened leaves space between topcap and steerer. Regardless, the 4-5mm number is with the stem bolts still tight, so I cannot fathom spacing is a problem.
With different topcaps, especially campy the starnut must be much lower than 4-5mm for it not to bottom out. Proper starnut installation is always that figure. Campy says 20mm in their manual.
Is your headset missing any pieces? In particular the split, cone ring?