Specialized stem top cap orientation

[Broadside]

Does anyone know how these stem top caps are meant to be positioned?

I have looked at the instructions but they lack a picture!
http://cdn.specialized.com/OA_MEDIA/pdf/manuals/IG0239.pdf

The instructions say that the logo should not be orientated to the side, but then I found a picture on a Specialized page with the logo to the side, so I thought I would ask here!

http://static.specialized.com/media/mixed_media/SW-VENGE_TOP-CAP.jpg

 

[ianrauk]

It really doesn't matter.

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

Why does it matter?
Mine are all over the place on all my bikes, I just do the top cap bolt up and take no interest in the cap Logo position

 

[Broadside]

Why does it matter?

I thought the + and - were meant to line up with the way the shim has been installed? I thought it would be best if it was done right that was all :-)

 

[Phil485]

Little things like that irritate some people. I like my felt one to be straight.
As has been said no technical reason for any particular orientation, just my mild OCD dictating straightness.

 

[Alien8]

I would follow the instructions as it appears that the bolt hole in the cap is not centered and the shim has a variable thickness - so I guess the manufacturer knows best.

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

I've just checked my specialized bikes and the headset spacers are the same thickness all round and the headset top cap is the same thickness all round, I can't see how it makes a bit of difference?

 

[Broadside]

Thanks for checking Mr H.

The headset spacers are the same thickness but the bottom of the shim is not the same thickness all the way round. I have taken a photo but it hasn't come out too well, i might need to take it again in daylight.

I think I will just undo the top cap and position so it fits most snug and leave it at that. Thanks for the replies.

 

[PaulSecteur]

I could be wrong on this (it could be the camera angle), but in the first photo it looks like the cap isn't sitting flush in the centre of the stem. It seems as if its sitting too far forward.

Is that the original stem and cap?

 

[Alien8]

Figure 3 shows why - it's to compensate for the non-uniform shim so that the bolt is correctly aligned to the star fangled nut.

 

[Broadside]

Yes it's all original, the bike is only a week old! I dropped the bars down while I'm playing with the setup. The top cap does sit better with the logos fore and aft but that is at odds with the Specialized instructions which is why I posted the question.

 

[Tim Hall]

More instructions here.

It is, as Alien8 says, to do with the multi position stem (which isn't like normal stems).

 

[slowmotion]

It really doesn't matter.

Because the shim sleeve is tapered with this multi-angled stem, the axis of the stem casting isn't exactly co-axial with the steerer tube. The orientation of the stem cap is supposed to ensure that the fixing bolt (seated on the stem casting) lines up axially with the spider nut thingy in the steerer tube. Well, that's the theory anyway, but as Ian said, it doesn't matter. I swapped the angle on the same stem last week and used a flat cap from a completely different manufacturer. No problem.

 

[Broadside]

Thanks Tim, that guide cleared things up. "Always position top cap bolt hole toward thinner wall section of shim.", so that will do me :-)

I agree with others though, the difference this makes is probably negligible...

 

[e-rider]

I've seen spacers with a 'wedge' like cross section, I guess this corrects for something - probably poor engineering that is being corrected as there is no need for them not to be straight!!! I think it was a Specialized bike too.