Bicycle Mechanics - I Think I Just Did Something Really Stupid...

I bought a fork for my bike frame that has a shorter steerer than the fork that came with the frame. The fork that came with my frame is about 158mm long, and the one I bought is 140mm. I can't imagine a way to make it longer, and to weld it would just cost as much as a new fork.

I'm screwed aren't I.

A buddy of mine once welded half an inch onto his steerer tube once, and it worked for a while just fine. The danger is that steerer tubes are often very slightly different diameters, so even after you filed down the weld to be smooth, the diameter of the bit you welded on and that of the fork's intact steerer tube might differe just enough to make your stem fit like utter crap and have there be some play involved. If it means the difference between riding and not, I'd say do it if you're VERY CONFIDENT in the welding ability of the guy that you're getting to do it for you. It's not nearly as expensive as you think it is, but you may not be happy with the results. Look for a frame manufactuer that's relatively close to you, perhaps, but most of the welders I know in any industry aren't exactly hacks. Anyone will do as long as the penetration on the weld is proper deep enough.

Alternatively, take out any spacers underneath your stem, maybe try a headset with a lower stack height. All that will probably mess with the bike fit though, so you'd have to adjust all the usual variables (crank arm length, seatpost height, etc.) to compensate.

Chances are though that you should just try to return the fork from the place you bought it from though, unless you're unable to. If you're not able to, try to sell it or trade it to someone else.

Something will work if you want it to badly enough.

If the steerer is 1 1/8" threadless, you're not necessarily screwed. You can get a steering tube extender that clamps on to the fork's steering tube and adds about two inches extra. You need enough length of steering tube sticking up out of the head tube to be able to clamp on to. The clamp is pretty much the same size as one on a generic stem made for 1 1/8" threadless steerers. Odds are you will have enough room if your old fork had a stack of stem spacers. The downside is that the extenders are pretty ugly.

If your fork has a threaded steerer and you came up short, you're screwed.

If the steerer is 1 1/8" threadless, you're not necessarily screwed. You can get a steering tube extender that clamps on to the fork's steering tube and adds about two inches extra. You need enough length of steering tube sticking up out of the head tube to be able to clamp on to. The clamp is pretty much the same size as one on a generic stem made for 1 1/8" threadless steerers. Odds are you will have enough room if your old fork had a stack of stem spacers. The downside is that the extenders are pretty ugly.

If your fork has a threaded steerer and you came up short, you're screwed.
It's a 1" threaded steerer.

I'm screwed.

I guess that's what I get for not paying attention and checking all the measurements.

What kind of a fork is it? I might be in the market for a threaded fork with a short steerer, so I could help you recoup some of the cost.

Pretty much screwed I would say.

Ok, this is really far out idea, but I think you guys would get a kick out of my hopeless attempts to save any dignity I have left.

I am thinking I can take a tube of identical or similar size and thread the inside of it and mate it to the top of my fork? Of course I'd thread the top of the extension with regular outside threads to serve as the "top".

Feasible?

no

no

:(

I bought a fork for my bike frame that has a shorter steerer than the fork that came with the frame. The fork that came with my frame is about 158mm long, and the one I bought is 140mm. I can't imagine a way to make it longer, and to weld it would just cost as much as a new fork.

I'm screwed aren't I.

You could try to exchange it. Explain that you ordered the wrong size. If that doesn't work, then sell it on ebay to recoup some of your loss. Then order a new uncut fork, no screw up this time. Good luck and it will turn out alright.

Tim

Man, if you can find somebody who can weld half decent and has a decent chop saw, just cut the steerer in half (way below the threads) and weld in the right amount of 1" steel tubing. The whole operation wouldn't take more than 15 minutes with the tools.