Once the stem is tightened in place is is purely cosmetic and covers the top of the steerer.
Mountain bike top cap torque.
Test the headset adjustment by lifting the bike and pushing the bars back and forth the bars should turn freely with very little resistance.
Now measure the distance from the top edge of the spirit level down to the ground.
Same is true for the end cap on a shimano hollowtech ii crankset.
You want the minimum torque to reduce play in the headset.
A torque table for bicycles.
Snug the top cap down until there is slight resistance.
Don t over tighten nuts bolts.
Torque wrenches available to general industrial work including bicycle work are typically accurate to plus or minus four percent.
The torque is your do it all gravity bike and excels at everything from freeride to enduro to downhill.
When tightening the headset top cap it must push down on the stem or the spacer above it and not the fork column itself the top cap pushes down on the headset which.
Mountain bike rider sept 2019.
Tighten the top cap.
As others have said the top cap is pre load only.
Yup the top cap is just used to preload the headset bearings before tightening it all up properly.
There are basically three types of torque wrenches the beam type the click type and the dial type.
Suggestions appear below back to top.
When it s all back together you could actually take the top cap off and it ll have no effect other than letting the rain in.
Gazelle trading 1 1 8 inch bicycle al alloy headset top cap bolt mountain bike stem top cap cover headset screws for mtb road xc fr bike stems 3 8 out of 5 stars 10 10 98 10.
Do it right use this torque guide.
This is your inseam measurement.
Mountain bike levers avid built in clamp 4 5 6 8 nm 40 60 in lbs avid strap type 3 2 4 1 nm 28 36 in lbs cane creek 6 9 nm 53 80 in lbs shimano 6 7 8 nm 53 69 in lbs sram 3 4 nm 30 in lbs upright bar levers campagnolo 10 nm 89 in lbs shimano 6 8 nm 53 69 in lbs.
In other words a torque wrench set for 100 in lbs might tighten to 96 in lbs or 104 in lbs.
Adjust the bearing preload with the top cap then retighten the stem to hold it firmly.
If the motion of the bars feels sticky or hesitant loosen the top cap 1 8th of a turn and test again.