I’d like to push this a little deeper into my steerer tube, and I’m not 100% sure how it works. It looks like the SHCS pulls the lower part of the plug, driving the o-ring between the upper and lower outwards, axially. If this is the case, when bolt tension is removed, can you just tap the plug down? Is it critical that the bottom of the top cap contact the plug? I couldn’t find any decent tech info on the FSA site.
thanks
You have to position it so you can tighten the top cap snugly (to spec) on the top of the steerer tube. You can lower the plug by loosening the allen screw then pushing down, too loose and it falls to the bottom and you have to retrieve it, not a big deal.
Thanks, is there another allen screw in the plug itself? I’ve pulled the top cap and stem, and looking into the steerer, it looks like there’s just a tap to receive the SHCS from the top cap… So there’s no screw, but it still seems “snug”.
Is it a compression plug or star fangled nut?. A compression plug should have a allen cap screw in the center to draw it tight.
This is the FSA compression plug with the top cap screwed into it.
Star fangled nut, top cap has cap screw that tightens into it externally. There is a tool to drive it down and set it, some use a socket to drive it down.
Yes - the top cap uses a 6mm allen and the inner bolt uses a 5mm allen wrench - note allens with the balled end might not be best for this job as the 5mm seems to have a rather shallow tool insertion depth. If your headset is properly pre-loaded, you should be able to loosen the top cap with the 6mm until you reach the depth you want then use a 5mm allen and loosen the compression bolt a bit and the plug should sink down until the top cap is flush and then tighten the 5mm afterwhich the topcap should not be able to be tightened more than 1/4 to 1/2 turn.
Compression plug - top one. The black piece is on the bench and the silver piece is snug in the steerer. I’ll assume that there is another SHCS in the silver piece…
I guess that I dont follow. Referencing the pic above, the black piece is on the bench. I’ll assume that there is a 5mm SHCS in the silver portion (the compression plug). How would you loosen it (gain access) without completely removing the top cap (black piece - its more than a top cap…).
Yes, You completely remove the top black cap, the plug stays in place, and will have a separate fastener in it.
Thanks, its dark in there, I could see the thread for the 6mm, but nothing else…