Mountain Bikes · Public discussion

Thomson stem installation

Started by Jeff · · Last activity · 32 posts · 2,171 views

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Mountain Bikes
Published
15 June 2003
Last activity
18 June 2003
Original author
Jeff
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32
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  1. Step 4 of the pre-assembly instructions for a Thomson stem
    (lhthomson.comstem.pdf) reads:

    "Degrease the steerer tube, the inside of the Thomson Stem, and the steerer clamps before assembly.
    Rubbing alcohol is an effective degreaser."

    In no subsequent step do the instructions call for greasing the steerer tube/stem interface.

    The preceding has been a public service announcement. Thank you very much.

    -Jeff

    PS. And, yes, the clamp bolts were tight prior to the bars rotating under heavy torque while
    muscling through a technical bit of climbing.

  2. "Jeff" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...
    | Step 4 of the pre-assembly instructions for a Thomson stem
    | (lhthomson.comstem.pdf) reads:
    |
    | "Degrease the steerer tube, the inside of the Thomson Stem, and the
    steerer
    | clamps before assembly. Rubbing alcohol is an effective degreaser."
    |
    | In no subsequent step do the instructions call for greasing the steerer tube/stem interface.
    |
    | The preceding has been a public service announcement. Thank you very
    much.
    |
    | -Jeff
    |
    | PS. And, yes, the clamp bolts were tight prior to the bars rotating under heavy torque while
    | muscling through a technical bit of climbing.

    The secret here, whether you believe in greasing the steerer or not, is to grease the threads of the
    clamp bolts. This significantly increases their clamping power over dry.

    ---
    __o _`\(,_ Cycling is life, (_)/ (_) all the rest, just details. Nelson Binch =^o.o^=
    intergalax.comintergalax.com

    Checked by AVG anti-virus system (grisoft.comgrisoft.com). Version: 6.0.489 / Virus Database: 288 -
    Release Date: 6/10/2003

  3. "Jeff" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    Step 4 of the pre-assembly instructions for a Thomson stem
    (lhthomson.comstem.pdf) reads:

    "Degrease the steerer tube, the inside of the Thomson Stem, and the


    steerer

    Quoted message said:

    clamps before assembly. Rubbing alcohol is an effective degreaser."

    In no subsequent step do the instructions call for greasing the steerer tube/stem interface.

    The preceding has been a public service announcement. Thank you very


    much.

    Quoted message said:


    -Jeff

    PS. And, yes, the clamp bolts were tight prior to the bars rotating under heavy torque while
    muscling through a technical bit of climbing.

    Did I miss something? Grease what?

    --
    DTW .../\.../\.../\...

    I've spent most of my money on mountain biking and windsurfing. The rest I've just wasted.

  4. "Jeff" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    Step 4 of the pre-assembly instructions for a Thomson stem
    (lhthomson.comstem.pdf) reads:

    "Degrease the steerer tube, the inside of the Thomson Stem, and the


    steerer

    Quoted message said:

    clamps before assembly. Rubbing alcohol is an effective degreaser."

    In no subsequent step do the instructions call for greasing the steerer tube/stem interface.

    The preceding has been a public service announcement. Thank you very


    much.

    Quoted message said:


    -Jeff

    PS. And, yes, the clamp bolts were tight prior to the bars rotating under heavy torque while
    muscling through a technical bit of climbing.

    If you're greasing the stem-steerer interface, me thinks you need more help than Thomson's
    instructions provide. At least, for the very first time ever, the OP spelled "Thomson" correctly 🙂

    Chris

  5. "Jeff" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    Step 4 of the pre-assembly instructions for a Thomson stem
    (lhthomson.comstem.pdf) reads:

    "Degrease the steerer tube, the inside of the Thomson Stem, and the


    steerer

    Quoted message said:

    clamps before assembly. Rubbing alcohol is an effective degreaser."

    In no subsequent step do the instructions call for greasing the steerer tube/stem interface.

    The preceding has been a public service announcement. Thank you very


    much.

    Quoted message said:


    -Jeff

    PS. And, yes, the clamp bolts were tight prior to the bars rotating under heavy torque while
    muscling through a technical bit of climbing.

    And you're telling us this BECAUSE...???

  6. Nelson Binch <[email hidden]> spoke thusly...

    Quoted message said:

    "Jeff" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...
    | Step 4 of the pre-assembly instructions for a Thomson stem
    | (lhthomson.comstem.pdf) reads:
    |
    | "Degrease the steerer tube, the inside of the Thomson Stem, and the
    steerer
    | clamps before assembly. Rubbing alcohol is an effective degreaser."
    |
    | In no subsequent step do the instructions call for greasing the steerer tube/stem interface.
    |
    | The preceding has been a public service announcement. Thank you very
    much.
    |
    | -Jeff
    |
    | PS. And, yes, the clamp bolts were tight prior to the bars rotating under heavy torque while
    | muscling through a technical bit of climbing.

    The secret here, whether you believe in greasing the steerer or not, is to grease the threads of
    the clamp bolts. This significantly increases their clamping power over dry.

    Hmm, good point. <heads out to grease his stem clamp bolts and re- torque. maybe it will fix the
    creak with more clamping power.)
    --
    ~Travis

    megalink.net~farmers

  7. Sorni <[email hidden]> spoke thusly...

    Quoted message said:

    "Jeff" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    Step 4 of the pre-assembly instructions for a Thomson stem
    (lhthomson.comstem.pdf) reads:

    "Degrease the steerer tube, the inside of the Thomson Stem, and the


    steerer

    Quoted message said:

    clamps before assembly. Rubbing alcohol is an effective degreaser."

    In no subsequent step do the instructions call for greasing the steerer tube/stem interface.

    The preceding has been a public service announcement. Thank you very


    much.

    Quoted message said:


    -Jeff

    PS. And, yes, the clamp bolts were tight prior to the bars rotating under heavy torque while
    muscling through a technical bit of climbing.

    And you're telling us this BECAUSE...???

    There was a hidden question. Wooosh... ;-)
    --
    ~Travis

    megalink.net~farmers

  8. "Chris" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:


    If you're greasing the stem-steerer interface, me thinks you need more


    help

    Quoted message said:

    than Thomson's instructions provide.

    I couldn't agree with you more, especially when the manufacturer's instructions make it clear
    that the interface is to be dry. It wasn't me what done the greasing, though, and it's sure not
    greased now.

    Quoted message said:

    At least, for the very first time ever, the OP spelled "Thomson" correctly


    🙂

    That was only an accident.

    -Jeff

  9. "Nelson Binch" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:


    The secret here, whether you believe in greasing the steerer or not, is to grease the threads of
    the clamp bolts. This significantly increases their clamping power over dry.

    Good advice, and also called for in the installation instructions. I did the original installation,
    including greasing the clamp bolts, and they've still got grease on 'em.

    -Jeff

  10. Jeff <[email hidden]> spoke thusly...

    Quoted message said:

    "Chris" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:


    If you're greasing the stem-steerer interface, me thinks you need more


    help

    Quoted message said:

    than Thomson's instructions provide.

    I couldn't agree with you more, especially when the manufacturer's instructions make it clear
    that the interface is to be dry. It wasn't me what done the greasing, though, and it's sure not
    greased now.

    Quoted message said:

    At least, for the very first time ever, the OP spelled "Thomson" correctly


    🙂

    That was only an accident.

    -Jeff

    And so the "to grease, or not to grease" battle has begun again. good thing i bought season
    tickets ;-)
    --
    ~Travis

    megalink.net~farmers

  11. Quoted message said:

    There was a hidden question. Wooosh...

    Now why would you ride away with your work stand attached??? 😉

    --
    Phil, Squid-in-Training

  12. Jeff said:

    PS. And, yes, the clamp bolts were tight

    To the specified torque setting? or did you not use a callibrated torque wrench?

    Quoted message said:

    prior to the bars rotating under heavy torque while muscling through a technical bit of climbing.

    try some grease?

  13. "ClydesdaleMTB" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:


    Jeff said:

    PS. And, yes, the clamp bolts were tight

    To the specified torque setting?

    I believe so.

    Quoted message said:

    or did you not use a callibrated torque wrench?

    No. I doubt the shop used a torque wrench, calibrated or otherwise. I'm not the trusting sort when
    it comes to things that might kill me, so I snugged the bolts up further myself before riding. It
    probably wouldn't hurt to drop $75 on a decent torque wrench in the inch-lbs range, but I'm pretty
    confident that the torque exceeded the 4 ft-lbs recommended. As is common, I suspect that I tend to
    over-torque small bolts when judging by hand.

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    prior to the bars rotating under heavy torque while muscling through a technical bit of
    climbing.

    try some grease?

    It was the grease on the steerer that allowed the stem to rotate on the steerer, taking the bars
    with it. I can see how one might get away with a _very_ light coating of grease on the steerer, but
    this was just too much. Also, unless the interface were making noise (which it didn't when dry for
    the past few months), I can't see deviating from the manufacturer's recommended assembly
    instructions.

    -Jeff

    P.S. No worries with the shop, which has otherwise been fantastic. They took in my busted '03
    Enduro Pro on Monday evening and had everything swapped over to a replacement frame for me to
    pick up on Friday afternoon. Now, that's above and beyond by both the shop and Specialized! Of
    course, if the Enduro breaks again, it's history.

  14. "Technician" <[email hidden]> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    And you're telling us this BECAUSE...???

    Have you no soul? The OP had a religious moment when he decided that you need to grease the bolts.
    Now he MUST get the word out to all of you non greasing infidels!

    -Dave

  15. Quoted message said:

    The secret here, whether you believe in greasing the steerer or not, is to grease the threads of
    the clamp bolts. This significantly increases their clamping power over dry.


    Not only does it increase the clamping power, it will also greatly improve the odds of their removal
    over time. Two different metals have a habit of "bonding" to one another with corrosion.

    Mudhead

  16. "Dave Stocker" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    "Technician" <[email hidden]> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    And you're telling us this BECAUSE...???

    Have you no soul? The OP had a religious moment when he decided that you need to grease the bolts.
    Now he MUST get the word out to all of you non greasing infidels!

    -Dave

    And tonight's trivia questions are; What famous people used these lines:

    "To grease or not to grease, that is the question."

    "A grease by any other name would lubricate just as well"

    "Friends, Romans, Countrymen. Lend me your grease!"

    "E=mGrease^2"

    "Why don't you come up and grease me sometime?"

    --
    Westie - bored - obviously.

  17. Dave Stocker said:


    "Technician" <[email hidden]> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    And you're telling us this BECAUSE...???

    Have you no soul? The OP had a religious moment when he decided that you need to grease the bolts.
    Now he MUST get the word out to all of you non greasing infidels!

    -Dave

    Taper greasing pervert.
    --
    J'm

    To Reply Direct, Remove Clothes. ...-.-

  18. Mudhead <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    The secret here, whether you believe in greasing the steerer or not, is to grease the threads of
    the clamp bolts. This significantly increases their clamping power over dry.


    Not only does it increase the clamping power,

    True in an of itself, but greasing threads does provide for proper torquing, since torque
    specifications have a central dependency on thread engagement.

    Quoted message said:

    it will also greatly improve the odds of their removal over time. Two different metals have a
    habit of "bonding" to one another with corrosion.

    I think the bonding process you are looking for is "Galvanic Process." Something to remember with
    galvanic process is that some type of grease are acidic and actually exacerbate the process.

    R

  19. Reco Diver <[email hidden]> spoke thusly...

    Quoted message said:

    Mudhead <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

    Quoted message said:

    it will also greatly improve the odds of their removal over time. Two different metals have a
    habit of "bonding" to one another with corrosion.

    I think the bonding process you are looking for is "Galvanic Process." Something to remember with
    galvanic process is that some type of grease are acidic and actually exacerbate the process.

    R

    For reference, could you provide an example? I use a lithium based grease (red lithium i think. the
    grease is red instead of the white i normally see for lithium)
    --
    ~Travis

    megalink.net~farmers

  20. "Dave Stocker" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    "Technician" <[email hidden]> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    And you're telling us this BECAUSE...???

    Have you no soul? The OP had a religious moment when he decided that you need to grease the bolts.
    Now he MUST get the word out to all of you non greasing infidels!

    First of all, *I* wrote the above ("And you're..."😉, not Travis.

    And I wrote it BECAUSE the OP didn't include any context in his post. (Who is he? What's he talking
    about? His what twisted in his WHAT?!?)

    Bill "my kingdom for some quoting around here" S.

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