Hello,
I’ve read online that the spacers aren’t supposed to move or that they can move but with force by hand. I have multiple times removed the stem bolts and tightened the top cap (I have ruined multiple screws as well from over tightening). It is firm at first but after a ride I come home and I can see that the spacers have moved and I can move them easier by hand after a ride. There is no play in the headset but I am worried that loose spacers are symptom of something wrong and I don’t want to have an accident.
I have also read that you can tighten the bung or that you need a spacer on the top to stop this from happening, also that there has to be some kind of distance from headset bung to top cap.
The bike is aluminum and has carbon fork (Focus Cayo AL 105 from 2017)
English is not my first language so the bike terms may be wrong. I have uploaded pictures how it looks with all the spacers beneath and then how it looks with one on top. Also pictures how the fork and front looks like.
This all happened when I removed the top spacer because I wanted to adjust my length of steering.
Hope I was clear and appreciate all the help.
by tinfoilhatgang
4 Comments
What you’re saying is inconsistent.
Anyway, the headset spacers shouldn’t be immovable. If they were stuck firmly in place, then that would mean you overtightened preload. You would have difficulty turning the headset or you would prematurely wear the bearings. So, it must be that they can rotate.
But if they’re very loose, then it’s not possible for you to have preloaded properly.
Highly recommend you find “threadless headset adjustment” videos.
Loosen stem, loosen headset. Tighten the headset, tighten the stem. I don’t know what lose spacers means but if you hold both of the brakes down and rock the bike back and forth is there play in the headset?
I‘d try another spacer on top, I think you might be bottoming out on that expander.
Move one spacer to top, fixed it for me.