Cannondale Aficionados / Owners

I have a 5mm spacer above the stem. Really surprised this could make such a difference.

Yeahbut follow the instructions - if it still doesn’t work at least you know you’ve done everything to spec.

Not saying you do but mine was a cheapo and meant the pre load was never sufficient.

Good point, will put the 5mm spacer under the stem and see if anything changes. Do you think it is worth trying my other expander wedge as well? Or one thing at a time?

When you tighten the preloader, can you turn the spacer under the stem by hand?

IDK if the caad 10 / 12 headset assemblies are the same. One thing at a time :)

Will check this evening.

Thanks for your help everyone.

Yes, only ever change one thing at a time when doing problem determination

@wjrh Have you got a rubber seal under the headset cover (the supplied Caad12 HS cover has this built in)? I couldn't pre-load mine when I slammed the stem (replacing that massive HS cover) without it. I spent a solid hour fruitlessly tightening and micro-tightening to fix it. Took it to Mud Dock and they dropped a rubber seal over the steerer onto the headset, in order to raise the cover away from contacting the face of the headtube before the pre-load was set.

I had the stem directly on the massive HS cover, so should have been fine. I removed the 5mm spacer above the stem and placed below. Went for a ride this evening and everything still seems fine. Doesn't always manifest itself after the first ride though, I'll see how it goes.
Thanks again everyone for your help.

I'm having a similar issue with my SystemSix.

I swapped out the slammed fork for one with more steerer so I could raise the front end. I want to try the stem out in a few different positions before I cut this fork, but can't seem to get the preload required with spacers on top.

I appreciate you're meant to have the top cap directly on the stem but how are you meant to work anything out before you cut the fork?

There is a long-ish thread about headset issues on road.cc that might help someone here - http://road.cc/content/forum/182807-supersix-evo-headset-preload

People could just follow the manual.

I know I know it's weird the way they do it, but they also do steerers that you hammer in to the headset bearings with a hammer...crank axles that need to be frozen before fitting, their own crank extractor tooling, single sided struts not forks, concept bikes with inline skate wheels....

don't want weird shiz? Don't buy a Cannondale.

Start withe maximum stack (50mm or so) then work your way down.

I guess they assume people who can buy spendy performance road bikes can probably fork out a few quid for a bike fit that will tell them pretty much where to chop.

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very well said. this is just how cannondale operate

I’d rather take my chances or not ride in bear infested woods

If all this talk is about loose Cannondale headsets, and you’re using the Si expander and top cap, then you deserve your headset to be loose.

After having a number of CAADs with that expander and top cap, the first thing that gets replaced on them when I build is that useless piece of shit.

Those expansion bungs and top caps are ornamental at best. They do not provide enough compression in pre-load.

I had the same problem with my first CAAD10 where I just couldn’t get my head around why there was play in my headset EVERY TIME I went out after a few miles.

Ditch the shit Si expander and top cap (yes it looks very pretty and is nice and light) and spend £15/£20 on one of the SWorks ones that come in Specialized Carbon steerers.

You’ll set it once and never have to worry again.

In contrast, I use the SI expander in all 3 of my ‘dales and have no issues

What is this wizardry?!

I’ve still got it on my 12, no issues. Also with spacers above the stem since getting slammy courtesy of mr Dick

Meh - Reckon it can’t handle my pure torque and power (belly) when it’s transferred to the front end....

I never run spacers on top of the stem with the SI on mine, always cut my steerer 2mm under the top of the stem

Those s works expanders are absolutely solid, the lip at the top fouls some topcaps though.

I just shouted at mine until it worked

For real pain check out the Lefty OPI stem / steerer