Complete noob bike assembly question.

[pheonix478]

Putting together a mountain bike for my little guy which came with zero instructions. No problem though, it's all fairly straight forward except I did up these bolts that hold the handlebar what I thought was really tight and the bars still slipped on my test ride. Are there any tips to making these clamps grip better or recommended torque for this type of bolt? Obviously I don't want to overtighten and strip it... Same question for the bolts that hold the stem to the top of the fork? Thanks

[boyse7en]

You shouldn't need to do them up that tight. From memory i think my stem specifies 5nm.

If it is still slipping check that there is no grease on the bars or inside the stem clamp, and that there isn't some sort of swarf or anything on the bolting surfaces (ie where the stem cap meets the main body of the stem.

[pheonix478]

boyse7en said:

You shouldn't need to do them up that tight. From memory i think my stem specifies 5nm.

If it is still slipping check that there is no grease on the bars or inside the stem clamp, and that there isn't some sort of swarf or anything on the bolting surfaces (ie where the stem cap meets the main body of the stem.

Great advice thanks. Can't believe is didn't check but yes the bar/clamp was greasy. Also I think what I thought was really tight with the little penknife style allen key really wasn't that tight compared to doing it to 5NM with my torque wrench. PH to the rescue! Thanks very much!