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Can I have the top of the stem level with the top of the steerer with a carbon fork? There's an extra spacer on top to provide clearance for the top cap.
You need enough space to preload the bearings, if the stem is level with the top of the steerer the top cap can't pull on anything unless your putting a spacer in there
Yes, it'll be fine. I measured twice, but was a bit of a wuss and only had the steerer 1mm lower than the top of my stem when I was aiming for 2-3mm.
It always seems to be necessary when I take a set of forks onto a new frame, too.
Can I have the top of the stem level with the top of the steerer
Yes, it'll be fine. I measured twice, but was a bit of a wuss and only had the steerer 1mm lower
These 2 things are not the same.... you had at least 1mm of preload available.
molgrips just fit a 2mm spacer under the stem
You need enough space to preload the bearings, if the stem is level with the top of the steerer the top cap can't pull on anything unless your putting a spacer in there
Yes, I have that - preload works.
I'd not have thought of it, but the instructions that came with my Salsa carbon Firestarter said they wanted 5mm of steerer *above* the stem. Presumably as they wanted the steerer protected in some way from the clamping force.
However on the road bike as I have it now there is no steerer above the stem - it's simply flush. Then I add the spacer on top to get the preload to work.
On my road bike with a full carbon fork, the stem is slammed with no spacers above or below - steerer is 2-3mm below top of stem for preload. I've not died yet.
[quote=molgrips ]the instructions that came with my Salsa carbon Firestarter said they wanted 5mm of steerer *above* the stem. Presumably as they wanted the steerer protected in some way from the clamping force.
A few manufacturers have this in their fitting instructions.
I'm wondering how bad it can be? The top of the steerer can't really crush, the wedgy-stopper thingy star-fangled-nut substitute fits pretty well in there. Plus it's torqued to spec. Steerer material is thicker than the Firestarter which was quite surprisingly thin.
If you use a torque wrench to fasten the stem there's much less risk of crushing the steerer. I think if it were me I'd be happy running it without anything above the stem if that were the case.
With the proper bung preload widget and correct torque, crushing won't be an issue.
Stem right at the top(with preload space) on my fatbike carbon fork. No dying here yet.
Conventional wisdom was that carbon steerers had to be cut flush with the top of the stem and a 2mm spacer placed on top before bolting down the top cap, thus giving the stem full purchase on the steerer and preload on the headset bearings. Focus bikes have a particularly thin steerer and had to have an alu sleeve bonded in once bar height had been established then the top cap could be fitted flush with the steerer cut just below the stem. Straight answer is that it depends on the type of stem clamp, steerer quality and thickness and lastly what the manufacturer will warrant if it goes pear shaped.