Originally Posted by
Nanako
1. Which of these is correct? Is the wedge supposed to be stuck inside the fork, or should it be removeable? I'm leaning towards the latter. Maybe mine is just rusted in?
The wedge is part of the stem, and should move with it as you adjust the stem height.
2. Assuming the wedge IS meant to be removable, what will stop the handlebars from sliding downwards if the wedge is anywhere but the bottom? say, if the rider leans on them a bit. This seems to be a problem that worries me when raising the handlebars up.
The wedge jams the stem against the inside of the steer tube so it can't move, provided you tighten it sufficiently.
The stem bolts are not long enough to reach the wedge if the stem is raised upwards more than 1cm
That's because the wedge moves with the stem. If yours doesn't move, it's because it has corroded into place. Removing it can be a chore. After successful removal, use plenty of grease or anti-seize compound to prevent it from happening again.
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/brandt/stuck-stem.html
Before i started messing with things, my friend's handlebars were already raised up - considerably. Almost 3 inches higher than mine. However this didn't seem to be working out so well, and he was having some occasional problems with the stem turning inside the fork (and thus, the front wheel not turning) under high force. What could cause this?
The stem should be marked with a "minimum insertion" mark. Don't raise the stem beyond this mark. And make sure that the stem bolt is tightened sufficiently to hold securely.
