Wrong stack height?

Hi all,
Have i bought a headset with the wrong stack height?
The lock nut won't go on the stem any more than the picture below and this leaves the filthy gap you can see, do i just need to get some spacers or should i cut my stem down? The bloody head tube is massive already without some 7ft long headset being on the end.

Any advice appreciated. Thanks!
G

Hi all,

Hi.

Have i bought a headset with the wrong stack height?

No.

The lock nut won't go on the stem any more than the picture below . . .

There is no stem in the picture.

and this leaves the filthy gap you can see, do i just need to get some spacers or should i cut my stem down?

Neither.

Firstly leave the stem out of this, it has done nothing wrong, you are just picking on it.

Your steerer tube is a little too long.

ha! cut the steerer down, by 5mm, and put a spacer in.

as tynan, is kinda saying

Sorry to hijack this thread but I think the above advice should have you sorted.

If anyone has a pipe cutter i could borrow, I would be highly appreciative and will compensate in beer or beer kind... or cheese.

You can cut it down to size, but I wouldn't use a hacksaw unless you have a steerer cutting guide. Get the local bike shop to do it. The amount that needs cutting off = the total height of your locknut, and then minus 2mm so that the locknut lip is not tightened right down on the end of the steerer.

And also make sure you measure twice before getting it cut.

Hacksaw with a nut as a guide? Ive never done this myself so may be poor advice.

easy to chop it down with a hacksaw.

I wouldn't want to risk screwing up the threads, and losing a good fork. Just me though.

put the headset nut, on first, then cut, undo the nut should clean the threads.

put the headset nut, on first, then cut, undo the nut should clean the threads.

+1 Worked for me!

I prefer no cut methods.. so spacers ftw.

cavendish do some nice silver 1" spacers, and cheap

If the locknut in on tight, then the amount to be cut off is equal to the size of the gap. Simple.

Try to borrow one of these (I've got one but I'm a couple of weeks bike ride away).

or screw the top race up to the point you need to cut and use it as a guide. After sawing, screw the top race off the steerer to clean the threads.

+1 using spacers, cheap and no risk