Have a quill style headset on a road bike. I removed the wedge and used it like I would a threadless even though it is threaded. Didn't encounter a problem. Now that I'm changing to a lighter crankset and bottom bracket I am taking another look at the headset and wondering whether I should use a smaller bolt in place of the extender bolt. On the other hand, wondering whether I might again need the wedge with a lighter crankset. If I can go without a wedge and with a shorter allen bolt where would I find the right sized allen bolt, approximately 21-22mm circumference?

What?

the threads being cut, that part of the fork steerer is weaker, than a non threaded headset steerer.. , But ..

Quill wedges usualy expand below the cut thread portion, and the shaft of the stem reinforces the fork steerer.

tell us about your machine shop facilities.

As far things feel so far, I don't need the wedge to expand. It seems the stem wedge into the steerer with the bearing balls/crown/locknut and allen bolt is a sufficient hold, even though a wedge may make a stronger hold. It seems I can steer better without the wedge. I am somewhat new at this so I may be wrong about going without a wedge. I don't do much machining.

In total, I can try to continue without a wedge and find out I need a wedge if the headset comes apart. If I steer quicker and the headset is firm then I won't use a wedge, even with a threaded steerer. But, I may want to improve steering even more. If a shorter expander bolt would work better it would be nice to find one.

As a trained engineer (BS, MS, PhD, PE), and presuming that I understand your highly unusual arrangement, I can tell you: don't do this.

1) The wedged quill is designed to securely hold your handlebars securely to the steer tube. What you have now is a serendipitous friction arrangement. This could just as serendipitously STOP to provide friction.

2) If you are truly holding the quill in using your bearing cone and locknut on the top of your steer tube as a compression fitting, you likely have the preset (pressure on the bearings without you sitting on the bike) way too high.

3) Other possible ways this is working is that the wedge on your quill is locking to some part of your steer tube. In this case, a bump in the road could easily decouple it. Also this would limit your ability to adjust the height of the quill.

Your sig file is transliterated Hebrew prayer giving thanks to the Lord for providing bread. A very nice thought! I'm not Jewish, but did enjoy looking this up and finding out what it meant. But unless you want to meet the Lord, face-to-face, very prematurely, please put the wedge back on your quill, and adjust and tighten properly.

BTW, if you are having trouble steering when the wedge is in, you may have overtightened the wedge and distorted the steer tube at some point. Something to check.

Thank you for the response. I reexamined the setup in my mind and your first point describes a lot. I will nee to take another look at the setup but it seems that it would be dangerous to try without the wedge if I wanted the stem raised. On the other hand, because the stem was all the way in to the steerer tube the wedge still seems to be potentially more bad than good because in my mind the wedge is a less balanced hold than the bearings and/or allen bolt (though it is lower).

Those are the wrong qualifications for troll recognition, evidently.

I am also a trained Engineer and have a PE and I have absolutely no clue what the OP is trying to describe. If his quill stem is held in place only by friction as you surmise he has a disaster looking for a place to happen. Also, I have no idea why he things changing the crank and bottom bracket will have any influence on this.

Troll? I dunno but it has some of the earmarks. If it's a serious posting that may be even worse.

Where do I find allen bolts? Measured in circumference.

Huh? What do you mean? ?

Ummm. Sigh. Yeah, I guess so, SquidPuppet.

Troll hunting requires a different skill set.

Perhaps you meant to say "WTF ?"

I had a great response prepared but was unable to post. I touted business and engineering and discussed how things now may be different than in 4000 A.D. I suggested the possibility of cutting the bolt or having someone that looks like the troll do that if it is equitable. Also went in to writing descriptively now in an effort to write conventionally later.

I wrote about how much discussion there is on this website. I wrote about wanting to benefit society, including myself.

Ok, SquidPuppet, you just got definitive proof.

In my defense, there's a lot of stress (business, family-member's health) in my life right now. So writing a response to a troll was actually therapeutic. And I got to learn what that Hebrew prayer meant. So there's a good side.

I'm not a troll. I may have benefitted society and encouraged someone to purchase a good threadless headset. You may be glad to know that I am staying with my threaded headset for now and not resolving my desire to do without a wedge today. I should like to help you more.

No explanation needed. I have been sucked into troll vortexes more often than I care to admit. Best wishes to your ailing family member.

I'll take that wedge off your hands,

if you're not going to use it.

If you don't already have one move to an aluminum wedge, you can 0.0000007 watts.

The way I read it, he has the plastic compression collar normally used at the top of threadless headsets jammed into his threaded headset, between the stem and the top bearing, and has removed the threaded wedge from the system. I agree with the other poster that, if this seems to be holding, it's likely the preload is tremendously misadjusted.

Good to hear, [MENTION=422271]eric044[/MENTION], that you've put it back to how it was designed. You mentioned in one post wanting the stem raised. A much safer idea is buying a taller stem, or one that is adjustable. Alternatively, you can get threaded headset adapters that will mount into the steerer tube like a quill stem with a wedge, but they have a 1-1/8" "steerer" at the top to which you can affix any standard 1-1/8" threadless stem.

Tel Aviv , has A bike shop, right?

Was worthwhile to bring up because I wasn't certain on the engineering/mechanical points. Looks like I didn't previously remove the wedge and I fished it up after tightening the quill. Was able to think more holistically and decide even if I leave the stem all the way down not having the wedge would probably be dangerous (99.9%). Given that I raised the stem I think the chance of the stem holding without a wedge is even less than .1%.

Thank you for those that assisted. Those that name-called should reconsider the context. You have hundreds of new threads you can read. However, you could continue to call me a troll here until you are ready to make this galaxy nice for everyone. No major offense though, maybe we are on our way.