[cbrinly]

I'm no mechanic, but I've been taught to tighten the top headset bolt just enough to remove any play from the headset before tightening the stem bolts.

Edit: forum error? I'm not the topic starter. Post below mine was.

 

[ptfmb71]

So I cut the tube and installed the star nut. I put the the steering tube through the headset.

If I tighten the top cap before tightening the bolts to the stem the fork does not turn smoothly. If I tighten the stem bolts then the fork it turns smoothly.

What is the proper way to tighten the bolts (cap first or Stem bolts)?

 

[rkj__]

Did you press the crown race onto the fork? You make no mention of it.

http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help/threadless-headset-service

 

[mullen119]

As said above, Make sure you installed the crown race correctly. Then tighten the top cap first, BUT you do not tighten it as tight as you can get it, you tighten it until the fork has no slop in it, yet turns freely. Then tighten the stem bolts.

 

[JonathanGennick]

BUT you do not tighten it as tight as you can get it, /QUOTE]

+1. Depending upon the headset, sometimes the difference between "right" and "too tight" is not very much. I find the caged-ball variety often used as OEM on garden-variety hardtails to be a bit finicky in that they are easy to overtighten.