Hi guys! I was trying to tighten headset on my road bike because I noticed that there was a play in it. I followed the park tool video I undid stem bolts first then tried to tighten the top cap but I still couldn’t get rid of the play. So I opened the top cap and saw that it looks like this. Do I need to add another small spacer at the top or do something else with the headset?
One photo is without the spacer that I already have on top and one is with the spacer. Thanks for all the help!
by GuiltyIwnl
3 Comments
Yes, use another spacer. You need approximately 3-5mm of space below the top of your topmost spacer or stem to the top of the fork’s steerer tube.
This allows the headset bolt to compress the stack.
Be sure to tighten the stem AFTER the headset bolt.
~~you need another spacer, probably not taller than 5mm. just enough so the top cap pushes on the bearing instead of bottoming out on the compression plug.~~
the other possibility is that the compression plug is not fully seated in the fork. you’ll need to loosen it, push the plug down all the way so it sit flush on top of the fork, and tighten it correctly using a calibrated torque wrench.
edit: after a second look, that compression plug really looks like it’s starting to slide out of the fork. if you press it back in, you should not need another spacer. check the instructions from Specialized on their compression plug.
Yes I think you probably do. The spacer is too small currently so the top cap is hitting the steerer tube before the correct preload is applied to the headset bearings.