Cycling UK Forum

I've recently built up a Spa Audax steel frame using parts from an old worn out bike. This brought me into contact with carbon forks and a threadless headset. I chickened out and took it to the LBS who fitted it, saying "ride it a few times and bring it back for adjustment"

After about 200 miles it is now quite loose. To save a journey back to the LBS for what is probably a very minor job can anyone tell me how I can do it.

Thanks

There should be two bolts (sometimes one) at the back of the stem, and one on top of the steerer tube. Undo the bolt(s) at the back of the stem. Then tighten the bolt on top of the steerer tube until the play has just about gone. If the steering feels tight then you've done it up too much. Once you've preloaded the threadless headset about right, tighten the bolts at the back of the stem to lock it in.

Slacken the 2 bolts that clamp the stem to the steerer, so that the stem turns quite freely.
Tighten the bolt in the top cap SLOWLY......as the play disappears, you want to tighten it half a flat or less between checking for play......the idea is to find the point where the play just disappears. Having found that point, nip the stem bolts up again.
Job done.
If you go past the point where the play just disappears, back off the top bolt and wiggle the stem until play returns, and carry on.......don't run it too tight, it will wear needlessly quickly.

the procedure is easy enoguh but there are two main ways it can go wrong on a bike like yours;

1) it is easy to overdo the bearing preload on the top cap; from some slack to no slack normally takes about 1/50th of a turn and hardly any torque at all. If you tighten that bolt like any other M6 it will wreck the bearings in no time like Colin says.

2) on a carbon steerer the stem bolts shouldn't be overtightened. Most stems have a torque setting for the bolts; this should be regarded as a maximum value. Any lower torque value that holds the stem secure is OK and is less likely to damage the steerer.

cheers

Alloy steerer on standard forks for Spa Audax, so no worries there.

Thanks both. Job done so it will be the one to use on the clubrun tomorrow.