Got new forks and it seems with my new headset my steer tube is a little too short for the stem. Looking for a stem with a low stack height. Lowest one I found so far was 29mm with a recessed compression bolt slot to save some space as well. The bottom of the steer tube goes to the top stem bolt. Having issues with headset loosening up constantly and I think this is why. I could probably swap my headset but it’s brand new and the stem is stock so replacing it is fine with me. If it continues I’ll change my headset or buy forks with a longer tube like I should have done but I wanted cheap threaded forks and these were $45 new. Anyways. I’m pretty stoned rn so went on a lot but thanks for any info on stems.
by CMD_Photo
4 Comments
I swear I have seen more of these posts show up lately and I was trying to wonder why and a question came to mind…. How old are your forks? What about the frame? I’m just curious if an older fork, made before this style of integrated headset started being used, was generally shorter in steer tube length.
On that note…did you add a new bearing race to the bottom of your fork and maybe it hasn’t seated all the way? Sorry OP, that’s all I got for now…. GL
Edit: seemed for seated…
Cheaper to get a new, shorter dust cap. Even an entire headset would be cheaper unless you are willing to go very low end on the stem (and you get a spare set of bearings for the future).
The Shadow VVS is 27mm stack.
Dude it’s your forks. They were probably chopped. Also your HT top bearing cover looks tall. Sometimes affordable things wind up being expensive. Also where is the stem cap? That used to be what we used to tighten our stem to the forks.
The dust cap is tall af, I would say get a smaller one, they make spacer kits with multiple size spacers to get the height just right. They don’t look as nice and clean as a single “ dust cap / spacer” but it will give you more adjustments, make sure the wedge is in the headset ( if it’s not in there, the headset will never “ seat”) the stem isn’t the problem with the steerer tube, unless you want your stem super high, then it would be a problem. If you looking to learn and get into riding cheap parts are ok, but you’ll end up buying the same parts over and over from breaking, once you get a bike dialed in, learn the measurements and buy quality parts with the better specs