Will a star nut work in a 1 1/8 steel threaded steerer? Will it hold? I want to use the fork as a threadless fork with a threadless stem.


I just put a nice-DB CROMO- light-851 grams- threaded 1 1/8 fork on my Jamis Dragon-mainly used to ride up and down levee.
The steerer is waaaaay too long,so I can't load the bearing in the usual way(yes I knew this when I bought it-I wanted it long for more upright riding position).
I've put on a bastardized headset with a threadless type stem.I preload it by just screwing down the top "nut" of the threaded headset- using the stem as a spacer-works ok.
But I would like to try a star nut in it ans preload it that way.

Will a standard star nut -for a 1 1/8 steerer-work??
The steel steer has an ID of .995"- on my aluminum steerer tube fork it is about .975".
I think those start nuts are about 1"??
Are there special star nuts for this application?
The current setup- using the top nut to preload with a stem as spacer- works ok-but??
The fork is nice-and cheap $25-so it is worth the effort. 851 grams is light for a steel mtb fork.Nice feel also.Some (the cheapest)carbon forks are 800 grams-and $100).
Don't want- and can't afford- a decent(one that is unlikely the fail) carbon fork.

SO WILL IT WORK-THE STAR NUT? OR IS IT TOO SMALL.
OR JUST TRY IT AND SEE?
OR ARE THERE SPECIAL NUTS FOR THIS APPLICATION?
I don't have a star nut at hand- but plenty of used headsets/parts.
Thanks
Charlie