Originally Posted by
gugie
Raising the stem higher by using headset spacers isn't a good idea. It's a false sense of security thinking that as long as the little max height line on the stem isn't exposed above the headset, you're good. I've seen people use fairly tall spacers to "enable" bringing the stem up higher, when in fact it may just bring the expander plug up into the threaded area. And I'll tell you how I know people do this - I've replaced several steerers with this exact issue where the threaded area was either bunged up or broken off completely. I even documented it on this site for a Paramount steerer repair for [MENTION=401497]RiddleOfSteel[/MENTION] who found the frame and fork up at the co-op he volunteers at.
Now a production bike probably doesn't have this issue, but there were plenty of replacement forks sold BITD with very long threaded areas on the steerer. This allowed a bike shop to stock just one replacement fork - a safety issue in my mind.
Now, with the OP's few mm of headset threads to cover, it's highly unlikely that this would be an issue, and I agree that spacers would almost assuredly be fine. I just don't want everyone having the takeaway that you can just put a spacer in without thinking of where the expander bolt will hit - and it better be completely below the threaded area.
Okay, everybody, who are you going to believe, an engineer with actual experience with this stuff (gugie) or a lawyer with no such experience but who has a lot of opinions and the ability to tie you up in litigation until your grandchildren are of retirement age (me)?
Yes, this is a trick question. If your answer is anything other than a resounding "gugie." I have a bridge in Brooklyn up for sale on reasonable terms.