Problem Fitting New Stem, Headset Bolt To Short

[Cletus Van Damme]

I got a new high rise stem for my hybrid to replace the ugly Raleigh adjustable one that I got to try and figure out what stem size/angle I wanted to make the bike more comfortable. Anyway the new one is around 1 cm deeper where it clamps to the steerer or headset or whatever it is called. The bolt that goes through the top cap is only 3 cm long (thread lenght, 3.5 cm total), I need a bolt that is around 4cm threaded lenght (4.5 cm total). The thread size looks about 5mm or just over, is it a 6mm thread or something imperial? The bolt has a chamfered head as the top cap plate is countersunk. If the top cap accepted a regular allen bolt head it would probably be pretty simple. I may need to buy one of these. Sorry for the silly question but this is my first proper bike. It is a Marin Mill Valley ALP 2004 model by the way. Thanks.

 

[HLaB]

My first thought would be just to remove a spacer, somebody will probably be along soon with a better suggestion.

 

[mickle]

Are there no headset spacers that can be removed? The thing is - if the steerer clamp section of your new stem is very much longer than the old one there'll be too much space between the top cap and the top of the steerer. There should be no more than about 4mm.

A longer bolt is not the answer unfortunately.

 

[Cletus Van Damme]

Well I just went out to the shed to take a look, god the weather is terrible here Yes you are both correct there looks to be at least one spacer. I cannot believe what a tard I am. Thanks for the great advice as usual, I will fit the stem correctly tommorrow as I cannot stand getting my bike from the shed in this damned weather