oldsprinter

I've got some carbon forks which are 1 1/8 (got better ones for my road bike).

I was wondering if it's at all possible to use them with a frame that has a 1in steerer tube. I know I can't just put them it, but, for example, is there enough meat on a steerer tube to get a bit reamed off the inside? Or is there perhaps a special headset with slightly thinner sleeves that let a 1 1/8 fork be used?

I know the answer's probably no or too difficult, but I keep wondering.

xthugmurderx

no.

oldsprinter

Do I hear any bids for "too difficult" ?

Cyclist0383

No way. It's possible to use a 1" fork in a 1 1/8" steerer tube, but not the other way around.

oldsprinter

A 1 1/8 fork is only 1.5mm wider in any direction (radially from the center) compared to a 1 inch fork. That aint much to take of with a file (how thick's a head tube?)

veggiemafia

Close enough to 1.5mm that I wouldn't want to chance it.

Cyclist0383

What kind of headset would you use with this contraption?

oldsprinter

I was hoping you'd tell me that. Those tricky Frenchmen are always coming up with bottom brackets that work without threads, and headsets that turn 1 1/8 headtubes into 1 inch. I though Stronglight or TA might do some wacky reverse option.

oldsprinter

Why do I get the feeling I shouldn't have posted this question. All I'll get is how stoopid I am for asking.

Can I lathe the fork tube down 1.5mm? It's a thick alloy job.

fix

Lathing the fork down MIGHT be an option, but messing with the headtube is certainly not.

old and new

NO NO ..I'll add NO

old and new

I just noticed "old" sprinter from TOkyo .. hey fellas ,we're gettin' jerked -off

Retem

no the steerer is probably that thickness for strength and unless you for some reason hate your face teeth and nose I wouldn't do it just get yourself one of the performance forte jobbies headset carbon fork yada yada hundred somethin bucks

barba

Filing either the steerer or the head tube in there sounds like a dumb idea. A broken steerer is a sure thing for a nasty crash.

oldsprinter

I just realised, we've been banging on about fling out the inside the inside of the head tube - but when you put forks into a headtube there's way more than 1.5mm of spare space around the fork tube.

Instead, what gets in the way is the headset. It would be the bit of the headset that goes into the frame (the sleeve) that gets in the way and is the difference between the forks fitting or not.

Lance Armstrong used to drill (have holes drilled) in the sleeves of his headset - so there's some over-engineering there, some bulk to remove without turning a bike into a fatal contraption.

I'm just throwing out ideas. (Bad ones)

freebird

You can fit the 1 1/8" steerer into a 1" head tube (i.d. should be like 1 3/16").
All you need is some enterprising machinist to turn out a custom sealed-bearing (which would have to be external, of course) headset for you.
Shouldn't cost more than 3 or 4 hundred dollars.
Post pics when you're done.

gargiulo.mike

my memory is vague of this but while i was working in my lbs in the summer. this guy had a yeti moutain bike that he was totally having refurbished. this wasnt my customer so i really didnt pay much attention but as i remember it came in with a 1inch threaded rigid fork. he wanted a new suspension fork that they ordered through quality and not thinking they realized the fork was 1 1/8 threadless and that was the only size the steerer came in. so i think they found somekind of converter headset in the catalogue qualit' (if anyones familiar with that) and they found a headset that actually did that. im going to email my old co-worker to confirm on this I AM NOT 100% sure so dont bash me yet.

oldsprinter

Yes! I have hope. Maybe it is possible.

Except, I have one more obstacle to overcome even if this headset exists. I'm currently running an old Campagnolo Record Pista headset, which of course has an oversized sleeve 30.2mm instead of 30mm.

LóFarkas

If you really want to use that fork with that frame, see if it's possible to have the steerer replaced. CF probably makes it difficult, and if the steerer is cf, too, then I think it's out of the question.

The only other realistic chance is if the funky hs gargiulo.mike mentions really does exist.

eddiebrannan

sell the forks and buy some 1" ones. they can definitely be had on ebay and nashbar

timbentdude

You might be able to use oil impregnated bronze bushings from your local bearing co. When the fit gets sloppy from wear just replace them.
Tim

Fixxxie

Try trading the fork to somebody who has one of the correct size

ryanday

How do you do this without any play? There is a 1" fork that I would really like to see on my bike... which is 1 1/8".