Spacers on carbon forks

[R3awak3n]

So this is the first I hear about this but most manufacturers recommend 5-10mm spacer above stem. I never bought a new carbon fork until now so I never really paid attention to this. I always put a 3-5mm spacer above anyways. Enve recommends 5mm, I have a 3mm, its fine.

On my hampsten I have a 5mm but on the new fork I have they recommend a 10mm. That is a bit too much, any thoughts about this? I know people that run the stem slammed and are fine but I do play by the manufacturers rules, but 10 mm? that seems ridiculous. I think I am just going to keep my 3 or 5 on it.

[eBAUMANN]

You just want (ideally) to have the entire stack of the stem in contact with the steerer with a few mm left above for good measure.

Don't sweat it too hard, 5mm is fine.

[FlashUNC]

When I put the Enve tapered on my Lobster during the build, we followed those instructions. Kept a 5mm under and above the fork just for good measure. No issues so far.

[R3awak3n]

Originally Posted by eBAUMANN

You just want (ideally) to have the entire stack of the stem in contact with the steerer with a few mm left above for good measure.

Don't sweat it too hard, 5mm is fine.

I think I am going to do just that. 10mm is a lot, I mean if there was a good reason but as long as the whole stem stack is in the steer tube I think I am good.

[pdmtong]

IMHO they say 10mm above in case some idiot is not using a torque wrench

5mm is fine.

3mm is fine.

you want the stem fully clamped on to the steerer.

[tuscanyswe]

I guess I'm the idiot without a torque key .)

If you use an enve expander and top cap you won't be able to cut it to low as their top cap will then not be able to preload and compress the stack. The bottom of the cap will then hit top of the expander before stack is compressed. I dont like this with the enve top cap as you can't really go flush on top of the stem which i prefer visually.

[cadence90]

Originally Posted by pdmtong

IMHO they say 10mm above in case some idiot is not using a torque wrench

5mm is fine.

3mm is fine.

you want the stem fully clamped on to the steerer.

+1.

IMO, the 10mm "recommendation" takes into account a +5mm "COA adjustment factor" for short stack v long stack / "near-center" bolts (i.e. Moots stems) v common "extremity-located" stem bolts.

If the top stem bolt completely encompasses the steerer tube + a "wee" (oldpotatoe definition) bit = completely 100% fine.
.
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[ahumblecycler]

But not all manufacturers are the same. Cannondale, for example, instructs to have no stack above the stem. I suspect because their expander is designed to support from the point of entry downward (which is also why WW thought the original was a pig). Many expanders do not offer support for the 5-10mm, which drives the instructions to leave a bit on top. The ENVE plug, and others have followed suit, have the additional 2-3mm on top, which I think is a great solution.

[R3awak3n]

Thanks for the answers everyone.

I wonder what expander is on my enve fork, I never checked. Cant be the enve because I am running a 3mm spacer. Maybe its barely hiting the bearing compression necessary.

After seeing some damaged steer tubes from over torquing I bought a deda plug that is pretty long in the steer tube.

[tuscanyswe]

Originally Posted by R3awak3n

Thanks for the answers everyone.

I wonder what expander is on my enve fork, I never checked. Cant be the enve because I am running a 3mm spacer. Maybe its barely hiting the bearing compression necessary.

After seeing some damaged steer tubes from over torquing I bought a deda plug that is pretty long in the steer tube.

3mm might just be enough to get away with it.
Heres a pic which (badly) shows the gap between the cap and expander-lip.

[chiasticon]

what others said. half of it is CYA factor for them. the other half is that their expander doesn't play nice with a 5mm spacer and their top cap.

that said, I personally have no issues with a 10mm spacer above the stem. it's when you see people cruising around with like 40mm+ up there that you're like "go home now and fix that!"

[oldpotatoe]

Originally Posted by eBAUMANN

You just want (ideally) to have the entire stack of the stem in contact with the steerer with a few mm left above for good measure.

Don't sweat it too hard, 5mm is fine.

agree...