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 top cap torque.
Once the stem is tightened in place is is purely cosmetic and covers the top of the steerer.
Don t over tighten nuts bolts.
Suggestions appear below back to top.
Test the headset adjustment by lifting the bike and pushing the bars back and forth the bars should turn freely with very little resistance.
In other words a torque wrench set for 100 in lbs might tighten to 96 in lbs or 104 in lbs.
Next straighten the handlebars.
There are basically three types of torque wrenches the beam type the click type and the dial type.
Yup the top cap is just used to preload the headset bearings before tightening it all up properly.
If the motion of the bars feels sticky or hesitant loosen the top cap 1 8th of a turn and test again.
Mountain bike rider sept 2019.
The torque is your do it all gravity bike and excels at everything from freeride to enduro to downhill.
This is your inseam measurement.
As others have said the top cap is pre load only.
Snug the top cap down until there is slight resistance.
Do it right use this torque guide.
Tighten the top cap.
Now measure the distance from the top edge of the spirit level down to the ground.
It is non load bearing.
A torque table for bicycles.
Bike torque wrench 1 4 inch drive torque wrench set 2 to 24 nm bicycle tool kit for mtb mountain road bikes with 3 8 adapter allen key torx sockets extension bar 4 5 out of 5 stars 15 54 86 54.
Same is true for the end cap on a shimano hollowtech ii crankset.
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.
Adjust the bearing preload with the top cap then retighten the stem to hold it firmly.
Torque wrenches available to general industrial work including bicycle work are typically accurate to plus or minus four percent.