Originally Posted by
TimothyH
Cervelo steerers are supposed to use the aluminum sleeve with a star nut. I know two people who have used a compression plug instead. The Specialized plug is long and very supportive inside the steerer. It is $10 and worth every penny.
https://www.amaincycling.com/special...4-2010/p691196
If the aluminum sleeve is bonded into place then you can't use the compression plug. You are stuck with a star nut.
Using a star nut, if the top cap sits directly on the stem then the stem will need to extend 1mm to 2mm above the steerer. Adjust spacers under the stem so that this is the case. It should look like the photo below with the steerer just below the top of the stem.
Use a torque wrench to tighten the stem bolts. If the top bolt on the stem is crushing the steerer then STOP - my guess is that you are completely over tightening the bolts or the aluminum sleeve is too far down into the steerer to support the stem, or both. The aluminum sleeve should go to the top of the steerer. If it doesn't then another piece can be added.
-Tim-
my current setup looks something like that, except no spacers under the stem, and I would like to bring the spacer on top to be below the stem. I am using a 5 nm torque wrench, but the stem bolt on the top part of the stem is compressing more than the bottom bolt, which is already at 5 nm. the top bolt isn't anywhere close to 5 nm, and it's already screwed in further than the bottom bolt..