STEM INSTALL 6

Wipe the bar clamp area with a cloth to make sure it is free of any grease or lubricants. Place your handlebars in the bar clamp area with the crossbar resting on the frame. As the bars rest on the frame and in the bar clamp area centered evenly, place the stem cap over the bars. My 3 year old daughter was hanging out at the kitchen table workshop today.

STEM INSTALL 4

Supercross forks come with a compression cap that is hollow which allows the steer tube exposed on top of the stem to be covered without using spacers. Grease the compression bolt you have and tighten it while you hold the frame and fork up off of your work surface. Holding the frame and fork off of the work surface while tightening the headset allows the headset to tighten together evenly as it is free of pressure directing it out of alignment. Never sit on your bike while tightening a compression cap.

STEM INSTALL 2

Grease the lower bearing race and the top bearing race of the head set.

STEM INSTALL 1

Before you install a stem grease all the bolts lightly at the threads only. This will prevent squeaks, increase life of the bolts, help prevent stripped bolts and help prevent seizing. Do not grease the underside of the bolt head where it comes in contact with the stem face. Greasing the bolt head will cause the stem bolts to be easily overtightened resulting in stripped and bent bolts. After you grease all the bolts spin in the two stem clamp bolts a few turns. Next make sure you remove any grease or residual manufacturing lubricant from the stem clamping area.

Headset Install

The headset is the interface between the front end of the bike and the tail end of the bike. A very important part that should be installed with the right tool each time. Taking a frame down to my local shop to have a headset pressed in once in a while really pays off, I can be assured the cups are pressed evenly and securely into the frame. In addition, the shop mechanics will be able to tell if the headtube must be milled to accept the cups. There are many ways to install the headset cups at home, hammer and a 2x4, washers with a big bolt and nut, rubber mallet and so on. All of those installation types cause damage, damage that you don't need and can't afford when it comes to safety. I took a headset to the shop today with a frame and fork. Headset in frame and bearing race on fork.