Stem Not Tightening Up

[MacB]

Just don't put your full weight behind it Mac and you'll be fine

harsh but fair, just don't expect me to ever buy a torque wrench

 

[MacB]

Well, official reply from On-One and yes, you need to remove the spacing washers to get it to tighten up. No harm done and I'll know if I ever get the same thing come up again.

 

[Alun]

What is the point of the spacing washers, other than to prevent the stem tightening up properly?

 

[MacB]

What is the point of the spacing washers, other than to prevent the stem tightening up properly?

Aha, just found it here:-


http://www.fullspeedahead.com/fly.aspx?layout=tech&taxid=74

clicking on the link titled FSA Gravity Vision Stem Instructions brings up a PDF file and in that PDF file it lists a number of stems, the OS120 included, that have an additional 1.8mm spacer washer. These are to prevent cracks from forming on carbon steerer tubes and are not necessary for other types of steerer.

A further search on the web reveals a lot of chat about FSA stems damaging carbon steerer tubes so this must have been introduced to avoid that. No idea how they then expect you to get the stem tight enough though.

Worth knowing for those that have carbon steerers, thankfully that doesn't apply to me.

 

[steve52]

i love simple solutions, and amazed at this thread, i would have removed the spacing washerand had been done with it! is it me?

 

[Kestevan]

i love simple solutions, and amazed at this thread, i would have removed the spacing washerand had been done with it! is it me?

Me too - Reading the manual is for women

Trouble is I would have then gorillad the tightening and snapped the steerer - But them I'm a clumsy oaf.

 

[MacB]

i love simple solutions, and amazed at this thread, i would have removed the spacing washerand had been done with it! is it me?

I can't help myself, it's like a form of OCD, it would have bugged the hell out of me until I got to the bottom of it.

 

[e-rider]

I like the way FSA prefer to have a dead rider (from loss of control when the bars turn and the wheel doesn't) rather than damage a carbon steerer tube.