registered usar

i have the park tool for it....tns something. it says to screw on the nut and then insert the tool over the top. then drive in the star nut with a hammer blows on the top. do i need to remove the fork. do i put it on a stand? how do i get it ready? i don;t want to break anything

FlatFender

I dont use the tool (because I dont own one)
I just screw in the bolt untill all the threads are engaged, and hammer on the top if the bolt till she is nice and centered, about 1/4 - 1/2" in the tube.

I would take the fork off the bike. but I cant think of a reason why you couldnt do it with it on the bike. You might mess up your first 1 or 2 star nuts, but you will get the hang of it.

Stacey

I do mine the same way. You'll probably want to take it out of the frame. I set mine in my vise, you can use a fence rail, or a deck rail whatever.

Metaluna

Last time I did it, I used an old wooden chair, turned over on its side so that the seat (which is about 1" thick, reasonably smooth wood with well rounded edges) was vertical. Then I positioned the fork blades over the seat with a neoprene mousepad sandwiched in between to protect the carbon. I used a star nut setter I bought from Nashbar for about $7. I also used the chair to install the fork crown baseplate with a brass slide hammer.

I picked a chair because I needed a surface that was 1) sturdy, 2) thin enough to support a road fork at the crown and not put too much pressure on the blades, and 3) able to stand solidly "upright" on its own, unlike, say, trying to hold a 2x4 between my knees. The chair was the first thing I spotted while rooting around in my basement. A good bench vise would have given me a lot more options -- a very handy tool to have for working on the headset/fork area.

Retro Grouch 

I protect the dropouts by supporting the fork with a piece of 2 x 4 under the fork crown.

It takes a couple of pretty good blows to get the star nut started. When you do get it started, chances are it won't be straight so work with your nut setter to get it straight before you get to the final depth.

Stacey

I just stick the bolt in the star nut till it's threaded through and tap it in gently. If the bolt head goes off center I just change the direction of strike to orient it properly. There's been for me enough slack in the top cap fit that final centering can be done when tightening it all up.