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new stem=loose steerer tube wobbling around


willy101's picture

By willy101 - Posted on 31 May 2011

I just replaced my old stem with a new funn crossfire stem and the sterrer tube is now banging the frame even though everything is tightened. If anyone has any advice it would be greatly appreciated,

Cheers,
Will

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loki's picture

Did you make any changes to the headset?
Or the spacers (if any)?

Could be that your new stem is no longer making proper contact (either directly or via spacer) with the bearing, thus not giving you the correct bearing preload.

I had a similar problem recently and had to find a suitably sized washer to fit over the steerer tube and make contact with the inner bearing surface. I could then preload the bearing correctly and stop it from wobbling around in the head tube.

Brian's picture

Make sure the top of the stem (where the cap sits) is higher then the steerer tube.

I had an issue on my road bike where the nut in the steerer tube had worked its way loose and was sitting proud of the top of the steerer tube. This meant it didn't matter how tight it was there was play. I pushed it further down the tube, tightened it up (it was the sort you tighten in the tube), fitted the stem and everything was good.

VTSS350's picture

As people have said make sure that the steer tube is about 4-5mm lower than the top of the stem.

Unfortunately stems are not all the same and you might need to cut down your steerer tube.

herzog's picture

Or use a headset spacer or two to achieve the same result without cutting.

haydos's picture

Make sure you are tightening the top cap before you tighten the stem, otherwise your tightened stem stops the top cap pulling everything tight Smiling (i speak from experience Sticking out tongue)

willy101's picture

Managed to get a snug fit on my bike thanks to all the advice,

Cheers Will

Brian's picture

So what was the issue?

willy101's picture

stem before headset(:

Discodan's picture

.

haydos's picture

Thats why i made the suggestion, dont worry we have all been there! (well most of us) Laughing out loud

hawkeye's picture

Yep, been there!

Was like: "WT? This isn't good Sad " ...and then... "Oh, DUH!"

Smiling

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