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Is it necessary to have spacers below the stem?

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Is it necessary to have spacers below the stem?

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Old 04-24-18 | 05:03 PM
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Is it necessary to have spacers below the stem?

Is it necessary to have any spacers below the stem. I have a Chris King headset and a titanium frame?
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Old 04-24-18 | 09:18 PM
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Thread moved to Mechanics forum.
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Old 04-24-18 | 09:20 PM
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No. But some steerers want a spacer above the stem. Andy
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Old 04-25-18 | 07:25 AM
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You may need a small spacer below the stem to keep it from hitting the top cover of the headset. It depends on the shape of the stem and the diameter of the headset and some down-angled stems will hit the edge of the headset before the clamp is fully seated. If you can seat the stem firmly against the top of the headset then you don't need a spacer.
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Old 04-25-18 | 08:43 AM
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I expect your back is younger than mine then, I have spacers because I run my bars up level with the saddle..

move the spacers up over the stem and try it for a few months before sawing the fork shorter, because it will not grow back...


fork full carbon?
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Old 04-25-18 | 10:57 AM
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Originally Posted by watsonm
Is it necessary to have any spacers below the stem. I have a Chris King headset and a titanium frame?
Not much to add except to say that King headsets use a thin "scuff washer" between the stem and the headset top plate, but they don't necessarily require a spacer.
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Old 04-25-18 | 03:29 PM
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Ok, thank you just wasn't sure if I needed a spacer below for stability or any other reason.
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Old 04-27-18 | 07:30 AM
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Originally Posted by watsonm
Ok, thank you just wasn't sure if I needed a spacer below for stability or any other reason.
Yes. If you want to mount your stem higher up on the steerer tube away from the top of the headtube, you should definitely have spacers under the stem before tightening the clamp bolts. Don't leave an unfilled gap between stem clamp and headtube.
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