Bike Top Cap Torque

Yup the top cap is just used to preload the headset bearings before tightening it all up properly.

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. You want the minimum torque to reduce play in the headset. 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. If the motion of the bars feels sticky or hesitant loosen the top cap 1 8th of a turn and test again.

Adjust the bearing preload with the top cap then retighten the stem to hold it firmly. Do up the headset top cap until it is just tight at this point you should be unable to turn your stem spacers. Standard hub endcaps are 21mm in diameter while the new torque upgrade converts the hub cap ends to 31mm. Don t over tighten nuts bolts.

Do not overtighten it. Next straighten the handlebars. Do it right use this torque guide. It is non load bearing.

Same is true for the end cap on a shimano hollowtech ii crankset. In other words a torque wrench set for 100 in lbs might tighten to 96 in lbs or 104 in lbs. Snug the top cap down until there is slight resistance. So what are torque caps and do you need them.

As others have said the top cap is pre load only. Fsa megaexo crank adjusting cap 0 4 0 7 nm 32 53 in lbs fsa megaexo crank bolt pinch screws 9 8 11 2 nm 87 100 in lbs campagnolo 3 piece 32 38 nm 282 336 in lbs campagnolo ultra torque 42 nm 371 in lbs race face 54 nm 480 in lbs shimano 34 44 nm 305 391 in lbs shimano octalink xtr crank arm bolt 40 3 49 nm 357 435 in lbs. 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. As of march 2017 we offer torque upgrades on our nobl industry 9 torch and hope pro 4 evo wheelsets.

It all comes down to end cap width. A torque table for bicycles. Torque wrenches available to general industrial work including bicycle work are typically accurate to plus or minus four percent.