Carbon Steerer Tube: expander wedge or starfangled nut?
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Carbon Steerer Tube: expander wedge or starfangled nut?
Does anybody know whether it is OK to use a star nut inside a carbon steerer tube?
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Originally Posted by cazzooo
Does anybody know whether it is OK to use a star nut inside a carbon steerer tube?
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Originally Posted by sydney
No...Except in the case of CF steerers that are specificlly designed for one. Time use to pedal one that was, and there may be others.
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Originally Posted by jim-bob
I believe the word you're looking for is "peddle", not "pedal".
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My LOOK fork has a carbon steerer and I got the bike it's on used. It had, and still does have, what looks like an oem aluminum nut in it. It doesn't look like the typical star nut, it's just a cylindrical piece of aluminum with vertical ridges on the outside. Not only does it pull out of the fork under normal headset tightening forces, but it's scaring the inside of the steerer a little in the process. I'd like to find a better solution, but the two LBSs I've taken it to have kinda discouraged the expander wedge. The better bike shop told me about some aftermarket solution where an aluminum tube is bonded into the steerer tube so that you can use any old star nut. Any suggestions?
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Originally Posted by juicemouse
My LOOK fork has a carbon steerer and I got the bike it's on used. It had, and still does have, what looks like an oem aluminum nut in it. It doesn't look like the typical star nut, it's just a cylindrical piece of aluminum with vertical ridges on the outside. Not only does it pull out of the fork under normal headset tightening forces, but it's scaring the inside of the steerer a little in the process. I'd like to find a better solution, but the two LBSs I've taken it to have kinda discouraged the expander wedge. The better bike shop told me about some aftermarket solution where an aluminum tube is bonded into the steerer tube so that you can use any old star nut. Any suggestions?
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FSA makes a cost effective expansion plug with cap that works with nearly any carbon steerer. It's very easy to use and can be moved and re-set. Make sure you get the correct size, 1" or 1 1/8".
My LBS stocks these.
Al
My LBS stocks these.
Al
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Originally Posted by Al1943
FSA makes a cost effective expansion plug with cap that works with nearly any carbon steerer. It's very easy to use and can be moved and re-set. Make sure you get the correct size, 1" or 1 1/8".
My LBS stocks these.
Al
My LBS stocks these.
Al
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Originally Posted by sydney
There are different compreession bungs that can replce what you have, and don't have the little ridges. I have never had an issue with the standard Look bung on several bikes. The bonded in aluminum sleeve can also work if you want to go to the trouble.
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Originally Posted by juicemouse
By "compression bungs", do you mean one of the expanding wedge things, like the FSA? I suspect that the headset was way overtightened by the previous owner, based the condition of the rest of the bike when I got it.
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Originally Posted by sydney
They can even be sized differently depnding on if the steerer is CF,aluminum or steel. Get the one for correct steerer ID.
https://gallery.bcentral.com/GID49468...sion-Plug.aspx
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Originally Posted by Al1943
The OP said he has carbon. A quick Google check found only 1 1/8" FSA compression plug.
https://gallery.bcentral.com/GID49468...sion-Plug.aspx
https://gallery.bcentral.com/GID49468...sion-Plug.aspx
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This link to the FSA web site show that their carbon fork compressor it available in both 1" and 1 1/8" sizes. I have the 1" installed in my carbon fork and it works great.
https://www.fullspeedahead.com/fly.as...xid=34&pid=248
https://www.fullspeedahead.com/fly.as...xid=34&pid=248
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Originally Posted by blandin
This link to the FSA web site show that their carbon fork compressor it available in both 1" and 1 1/8" sizes. I have the 1" installed in my carbon fork and it works great.
https://www.fullspeedahead.com/fly.as...xid=34&pid=248
https://www.fullspeedahead.com/fly.as...xid=34&pid=248
Al
Last edited by Al1943; 05-09-05 at 07:32 PM.
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Originally Posted by sydney
No...this is about bicycles not door to door toilet brush sales.
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Originally Posted by blandin
This link to the FSA web site show that their carbon fork compressor it available in both 1" and 1 1/8" sizes. I have the 1" installed in my carbon fork and it works great.
https://www.fullspeedahead.com/fly.as...xid=34&pid=248
https://www.fullspeedahead.com/fly.as...xid=34&pid=248
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A compression plug will probably work on an aluminum steerer. Note that on a carbon steerer, most compression plugs are designed to not only allow you to preload the headset stack but also provides internal reinforcement of the steerer tube to prevent crushing by the stem's clamp. Depending on the fork, this is can be crucial. Other carbon steerers and/or stems are designed to spread out the load around the steerer tube's diameter more evenly. Regardless, you should always follow the proper torque specs. On an aluminum steerer, the need for internal reinforcement is probably not as crucial thus the only purpose for a top-bolt and starnut or compression plug is to set up the initial stack preload. In actuality you really don't even need it at all. I've seen mechanics simply compress the stack by hand, cinch up the stembolts and check that the stack has enough preload by rocking the bike with the front brake set to see if the headset moves. Of course having that big hole in the stem looks unsightly and there's that off-chance that the preload will lessen over time leading to a loose headset which can of course result in a damage. It's nice to have an easy ability to add back preload whenever it's needed. Most people insist on a top-cap.
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