Just got a new stem - steerer question
01-12-10 | 08:42 AM
#1
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From: UK
Just got a new stem - steerer question
Hi all,
I have just got a new stem and it fits on the steerer ok, however there is a bit of steerer left above it. I don't want to cut it so is it ok to just put a spacer on it and then replace the cap?
Thanks
Daven
I have just got a new stem and it fits on the steerer ok, however there is a bit of steerer left above it. I don't want to cut it so is it ok to just put a spacer on it and then replace the cap?
Thanks
Daven
01-12-10 | 08:48 AM
#3
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From: baltimore
Bikes: Pake Track; Bianchi XL EV2 El Reparto Corse, Kona Jake the Snake
01-12-10 | 08:55 AM
#4
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Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones
A spacer above the stem doesn't hurt anything. Just make sure the spacer is about 3mm above the steer tube...just like a stem would be.
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Stuart Black
Dreamin' of Bemidji Down the Mississippi (in part)
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Stuart Black
Dreamin' of Bemidji Down the Mississippi (in part)
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
01-12-10 | 09:14 AM
#5
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From: UK
Oh so a stem is MEANT to be above the steerer slightly? I thought that it shouldn't as then one screw would only have 1/2 a grip on the steerer. Thanks for the help, I just went for a test ride and all seemed well 
01-12-10 | 09:50 AM
#6
Mad bike riding scientist
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From: Denver, CO
Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones
The stem should be slightly above the steer tube. 3mm is about 1/8". If the steer tube is flush with the top of the stem, the top cap can't compress the bearings in the headset properly. You'll end up with a loose headset...not a good thing.
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Stuart Black
Dreamin' of Bemidji Down the Mississippi (in part)
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Dreamin' of Bemidji Down the Mississippi (in part)
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
01-12-10 | 10:07 AM
#7
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!
In fact, for carbon steerers, having the steerer project above the stem is desirable to assure the steerer fully supports the stem. Then a spacer above the stem is used to achieve the needed headset adjustment gap.
01-12-10 | 10:28 AM
#8
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From: UK
Cool it is around 3mm above I think. Can't be bothered to start changing around spacers right now so I will see how it goes - if I need more height to the bars I will have to change them around!
it is around 3mm above I think. Can't be bothered to start changing around spacers right now so I will see how it goes - if I need more height to the bars I will have to change them around!
01-12-10 | 11:08 AM
#10
cab horn
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Toronto
Bikes: 1987 Bianchi Campione
Especially if it's a carbon steerer NO part of the stem should be above the steerer. The red line is draw where the uppermost pinch bolt rests - not above the steerer. On a pro assembled floor bike there is nearly always a 5mm spacer on top of the stem before the cap.
