Bicycle Mechanics - Anyone use a Hammerhead plug instead of starnut on threadless headset?

Hacker44240's question about setting a star nut or star fangled nut as some call it reminded me of a question I have been meaning to ask. Has anyone used a Hammerhead plug or similar device instead of a star nut to adjust a threadless headset? For those not familiar with them these are short split wedge devices that work like the quills for traditional threaded headsets. They replace the star nut and seem easier to install.
Regards,
Raymond

a wedge type nut/bolt won't pull the stem down onto the headset so I don't know how you would tighten the headset.

unless I'm not understanding your question....

Basicaly there is a few different designs.. the kind you are talking about FSA used it with their Orbit XL headset a while ago.. Check out Mtbr and there was some complaints about how well it worked. That was for MTB though where the fork takes ALOT more abuse then road.. road bikes use a similar type plug but normaly expands in 4 directions when using a carbon fork with carbon steerrer and they seem to work very well.

I use them, most carbon steerer forks require them. They work well and you can pop it out to trim the fork if needed, or swap to another fork. Exspensive compared to a starnut. They are really easier to install than the starnut as you don't have to drive it in(while trying to keep it straight) you just insert, snug the expander, and adjust HS with the top nut.

Problems with them:

1) they apply pressure to the walls of the steerer and if tightened excessivly they could crack the steerer.

2) Sometimes they do not "bite" properly and will simply slide up the inside of the steerer as you try to tighent the cap-nut to take up the slack in the headset.

Problems with them:

1) they apply pressure to the walls of the steerer and if tightened excessivly they could crack the steerer.

2) Sometimes they do not "bite" properly and will simply slide up the inside of the steerer as you try to tighent the cap-nut to take up the slack in the headset.

What about one of these? I have no idea how well they work and for 20 bucks it doesn't seem to be too steep. Might be a little much for road riding in terms of weight though.

Azonic Head Lock (http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product.aspx?i=HS707Z00)

I think there are some other manufactures with similar designs. This is just the one I could remember.

I was looking at that...couldn't you take it off once you get the stem bolts tightened?

I can think of two reasons not to remove it.. one you would have this big hole there :) Second once pressure is released from the top cap the stem will slowly rise up a bit and in time you would have to put it back on and tighten down again.. I imagine it would not take very long either.

The Azonic one if I remember correctly, the one piece actuly rests on the bottom side of the fork between the tire and the archway. On MTB this is no big deal but could cause some problems with road forks, since there is not alot of tire clearance at times and it is not always flat in that area.

Yea that is an interesting concept. Never seen it until now. Interesting.

Kev,
I agree with reason #1 but reason #2 should not happen if the stem is properly tightened. The job of the top cap is *ONLY* to perform the initial compression of the stem, shims, and headset. Once the proper compression is achieved, the stem bolts are tightened and then it is the stem that is holding the headset in place. At this point the top cap is only serving the purpose of filling the hole (or keeping a spare top shim from getting lost :)

I see what you mean preston, but just as a bit of added safety just leave it there :) And especialy for asthetic purposes.. I wonder if you did not have the stem cap and it is raining if water would spray up the tube in your'e face :)