I've had a Cane Creek S6 (with sealed cartridge bearings) installed on a Nashbar touring frame, and I'm having trouble figuring out the proper preload setting.

How in the world is it properly adjusted? I've read parktool and some threads here. Even with the cap and bolt completely removed, and stem bolts loose, I can't feel any knocking, either by hand or by rocking the bike with the front brake applied. I don't have a torque wrench with low enough settings (read in a thread that 12 - 15 in/lbs is the proper torque). I attempted tightening it to find the point where the steerer would have friction, but I ended up pulling the star nut to the top of the tube. I tapped that back down...need it be replaced?

With sealed cartridge bearings, perhaps it will never be over compressed? Or maybe the star nut was never properly installed?

And since I never felt knocking, what's the best way to gauge the tightness? By riding it? Unfortunately, I won't have the drivetrain assembled for a while until some replacement parts come in.

I thought threadless headsets were easier to adjust than threaded!