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Just got a carbon fork with carbon steerer but when I fitted it I had to really tighten up the bung to get the stem from swinging around. Tightened the stem and everything seems pretty solid but took off the top cap and bung was sitting a few mm higher than the steerer. Had it out a quick play in the park and seemed fine but just wondering whether to get a better bung or if this is just normal? ta
Not normal - You might either need to tighten the bung up a bit more (if poss, don't over tighten), emery the inside of the tube a bit if its shiney? or get a new bung.
However I wonder if you are over tightening the top cap. I presume you are doing the top tap bolt first then the steerer clamp bolts last?
The bung you're writing of (and not meaning to patronise you) comes with a two-part fitting process. First you tighten the usually larger Allen headed bolt that tightens the friction clamp, then you fit your stem and nip-up the top cap.
I had a chap bring me a bike with a similar tightening issue last year and he'd attempted to tighten the steerer 'bung' by winding up the top cap bolt.
cheers but I know those things guys 😉
Tighten up the bung, seems pretty solid and dont want to yark it
Tighten up top cap to remove slack and preload bearings, again don't want to yark it but seems like never gets tight
Tighten up stem bolts
Steerer, stem etc seem fine it's just when I checked the bung it was 2mm higher than before (when it was flush with the steerer)
Just wondering whether to order a new bung but I'm sure read a similar thread on here before
All the bung really does is helps you pre-load the headset, if you've achieved that properly then you don't actually need it (just as with a SFN). A lot of weight weenies remove them, as they often weigh 50+ grams and cancel out a lot of the weight savings of a carbon steerer!
However... if it's creeping up when you tighten it there may be some other issue there!
If you're happy that it's properly tight I wouldn't bother ordering a new bung myself.
Yeah I figured it was expendable once it had done its job and it was pretty solid even when it had crept up just leaves a shadow of doubt at the back of the mind. Going out for a proper ride on it soon, if I don't reply to this thread again you'll know why
It does depend a little bit on what the fork is - if it's an incredibly thin walled steerer it does provide a bit of reinforcement, but I'd not have any qualms about riding without one - I'd just be slightly worried about my stem working loose, irrationally!
Schmolke do custom made top caps which push in to the steerer, good luck trying to get one though, I spent ages exchanging emails and not really getting anywhere!