Originally Posted by
Salamandrine
Also, FWIW, I was always taught that rolled threads are stronger than cut threads. Steer tube threads in a factory are rolled on a lathe. Rolling dies don't remove any material. Cutting dies like the Park do. I'm not an engineer. If any of you have any comments on that I'd love to hear them. Just thought it was worth a mention.
Here is my non qualified opinion on that. All the important stress, fatigue, and torture occur where the steerer joins the crown. That union needs to be STRONG. The threads at the top allow the top race to be
positioned (not tightened) to set proper bearing preload, and a lock nut to be gently snugged, simply to prevent the race from coming out of adjustment. That's it. There is no top-to-bottom tension on the steerer, or the threads. Gravity and rider/bike weight hold it all together.