steered cap - is it realy necessary?

[02GF74]

found this on weight-weenies:

As far as I know, the cap is used to take up the slack on the head race, after that the stem is held by the 2 bolts; so is the cap necessary?

 

[Tim Bennet.]

No! It is a help to adjust the headset, but once the stem bolts are tightened it can be removed.

 

[fixedfixer]

Once the head set is adjusted it is the stem bolts that hold it tightly in place. I suppose you could then take the cap off together with the bolt. But you'll have to refit if you need to make any adjustments in future. To be honest you'll not save much weight (prob the mud on the mtb frame will weigh more).

 

[TheDoctor]

I've seen a solid bar punch a hole in someones leg.
Getting your upper thigh apple-cored really doesn't bear thinking about.

 

[Davidc]

Adding to posts 4 and 5, the edges on the top of the steerer tube tend to be sharp and jagged and leaving the cap on covers those.

 

[henshaw11]

It's actually the stem that you'd hit (first, at any rate), rather than the end of the steerer tube which should be a few mm lower (for that matter I file my steerers down nice 'n' smooth) but I'd still rather have a topcap in there...

 

[e-rider]

what is the point of this thread? weight saving?

 

[02GF74]

point?

to discuss the extremes that some peeps go to to save 10 g or so.

you are not required to read or reply if you do not want to.

 

[andy_wrx]

Agreed, it's there simply to load-up the bearings, then when you've tightened the stem bolts you could remove it.

But I'd leave it in - it'll keep the rain out !

 

[snailracer]

I would recommend you fit the top cap.

The cap reinforces the weak cut edge of the steerer tube against overtightening of the stem and other handlebar forces.

 

[andy_wrx]

How does it do that, when it's simply sitting on top of the stem and is not touching the steerer, except by the bolt down into the star-nut ?

 

[snailracer]

How does it do that, when it's simply sitting on top of the stem and is not touching the steerer, except by the bolt down into the star-nut ?

On the caps I have seen, part of the cap inserts inside the steerer, reinforcing the cut end. This is especially prominent on caps intended for carbon steerers, such as: