Scott Roadbike - How to tighten handlebar stem

[Dart]

Can be mismatched bearing and cup - elastic band just fills the unsightly gap. But agree, take to bike shop.

 

No - there is no gap, with the two rings I have now, the lower one would be pushed down flush with the top of the stem cylinder by the top cap, even without the bands as fillers.

 

It all looked right when assembled the first time without the e bands, but they were around the stem when bike arrived.  Since it didn't fit tightly using common sense when assembling it the obvious way, we stuffed them down the stem and that made all the difference.   Why that doesn't work now, who knows ???

[dirtypot]

Since it didn't fit tightly using common sense when assembling it the obvious way, we stuffed them down the stem and that made all the difference.   Why that doesn't work now, who knows ???

 

My mind is boggled.... 

Common sense + stuffing an elastic band into the stem in the same sentence!

Aaai. /shakes head

[shaper]

Can be mismatched bearing and cup - elastic band just fills the unsightly gap. But agree, take to bike shop.

The elastic band was likely just there to stop the fork from falling out of the head tube if you picked the frame up before the stem was installed, and has nothing to do with the building of the bike... so better take it to an LBS and find out if you are actually missing something or not and let them do it properly before you have an unwarranted accident at high speed

[s14phoenix]

I think you need to take a picture of it and post it here. Sounds interesting. I am just not certain where on a stem you would have space to stuff elastic bands down???

 

Perhaps a 1 1/8 steerer and a 1 1/4 stem???

 

    does not compute....

[Dart]

Photo - that's a good idea.  Be a few minutes ....

[kenj]

Tri to ad a 5mm spacer under the top cap and tighten the top cap you can fit it under the top cap or under the stem when tightening the top cap pull the front brake rock the bike tighten un till there are no movement

[Dart]

First image - natural position, handlebars naturally push to back side of stem cylinder
 

<WTH - forum does not allow bitly and/or  .gif extensions ???>
 

http://i.imgur.com/DdKo3MG.gif

Second image, pulling handlebars forward

http://i.imgur.com/2YJQRBR.gif

I can push the pair of rings round the stem down by about 2mm by hand.  There are 3 bands, about half the lower band must have gone into the gap under the dust ring

[Dart]

2nd image, trying again ...
http://i.imgur.com/2YJQRBR.gif

[mtbride]

Take off those bands, they should not be there! Loosen the 3 bolts, and tighten the top one 1st. Not majorly tight but tight, and then tighen the other 2 tight.

 

If you still have an issue after that, take it to a shop, and don't ride that like, that's looking for #$%^.

[Dart]

@Kraggie :  Done that over and over, with between standing position and up to 75 kg weight down the tube.

 

I think I need that spacer (5mm) that Kenj suggested.

[mtbride]

@Kraggie :  Done that over and over, with between standing position and up to 75 kg weight down the tube.

 

I think I need that spacer (5mm) that Kenj suggested.

 

You don't need any weight on any part to tighen any of the bolts. Most important step is to tighten the TOP bolt 1st, then the other 2 bolts afterwards.

 

If it's still not right, then you are missing another spacer (one like the ons with the word Scott on)

[Eugene]

Another problem that you may have is that the steerer tube of the fork may be too long for the amount of spacers under the stem That can also cause play in the headset. If so, you could add another one in or have the tube cut.

 

I also hope you didn't damage something when you put all your weight into tightening the stem bolts. If you have a carbon steerer, you may very well have cracked it.

 

My suggestion is, take it to a bike shop. Leave it on a Saturday morning and let a mechanic check it out on the Monday.

[Kona Kula]

@Kraggie :  Done that over and over, with between standing position and up to 75 kg weight down the tube.

 

I think I need that spacer (5mm) that Kenj suggested.

You def need another spacer in there.

[shaper]

2nd image, trying again ...

http://i.imgur.com/2YJQRBR.gif

looks like it is tightening against the top of the steerer tube which is sticking out slightly above the stem... no matter how much you tighten the bolt it will not fix the movement in the headset as the top cap is not tightening everything

 

What you need to do is install a 5mm spacer above the stem as has already been mentioned. (so that the steerer is below the level of the top of the spacer)  The top cap will then tighten everything properly

 

Edit: and get rid of that elastic band

[Eugene]

Another problem that you may have is that the steerer tube of the fork may be too long for the amount of spacers under the stem That can also cause play in the headset. If so, you could add another one in or have the tube cut.

 

I also hope you didn't damage something when you put all your weight into tightening the stem bolts. If you have a carbon steerer, you may very well have cracked it.

 

My suggestion is, take it to a bike shop. Leave it on a Saturday morning and let a mechanic check it out on the Monday.

Sorry, only saw now that someone else has already mentioned the spacer.

[Dart]

The bike had been used before.  Packed up by a bike shop and shipped to me. All the parts should be right, though a spacer may have gone missing.  And it rode fine for 6 months.  And I am riding it now, apart from the 5mm forward shift every time I brake, it is "normal".  .... more