Please help - Which nut is this in the steerer tube?
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Please help - Which nut is this in the steerer tube?
Hi All,
I have an older Look carbon fork (steerer is also carbon), I believe either HSC 1 or 2, that is too tall. I want to cut it down, but I am not familiar with the nut that is in place (please see photo). Can I simply hammer this nut down??
Thank you in advance,
Stanley
thumbnail-1.jpeg
I have an older Look carbon fork (steerer is also carbon), I believe either HSC 1 or 2, that is too tall. I want to cut it down, but I am not familiar with the nut that is in place (please see photo). Can I simply hammer this nut down??
Thank you in advance,
Stanley
thumbnail-1.jpeg
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Don't hammer it. It's an expansion plug, which is removable & replaceable. See THIS PAGE on Park Tool's web site for more info.
The expansion plug gives the top cap bolt something to anchor to, so that you can remove headset play when installing your threadless stem. If positioned at the same height as the stem, it also helps protect a fork's carbon steerer tube from crushing or cracking when you tighten the stem clamp bolts.
The expansion plug gives the top cap bolt something to anchor to, so that you can remove headset play when installing your threadless stem. If positioned at the same height as the stem, it also helps protect a fork's carbon steerer tube from crushing or cracking when you tighten the stem clamp bolts.
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Thanks for the quick reply and link. Please excuse my ignorance, but there doesn't seem to be any expansion bolt that I can unscrew or any other means of removing this piece?
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Was there an upper part(s) of the pressure plug that was removed before the photo was taken? It looks like what is shown is the lower cone and the "brake shoes" (as in what a drum brake would have, which is what pressure plug mimics). If so then the lower cone needs a tap from a punch and hammer to break it loose from the "shoes". With the poor photo it's hard to say if the brown stuff is corrosion, dirt or dried on food/drink gunk Andy
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Sorry for the poor pic, I took another one. The setup is "as is" and there were no other pieces above it. The top cap screw was screwed into the hole pictured. Thanks.
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Can you remove the front wheel and look at the plug from the underside to see if there's a hex opening on that end?
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Got some lovely anti-seize on there.
If there was nothing else but the adjuster bolt on that, then the center piece must be expanding when the adjuster screw is tightened. Don't "hammer" it, but I'd thread the bolt back in, and try to tap it gently downward and see if it releases the expansion. Might just fall out (or down) when it's loosened.
If there was nothing else but the adjuster bolt on that, then the center piece must be expanding when the adjuster screw is tightened. Don't "hammer" it, but I'd thread the bolt back in, and try to tap it gently downward and see if it releases the expansion. Might just fall out (or down) when it's loosened.
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Take another photo straight down. How many edge slots? 1 or 2? Most plugs are divided into 4 quadrants or in thirds. two pieces are less common, one piece is very unusual.
Hmmm. It might be this one, found via google image search:
That's very odd, with a spring to tension it. Strange. It appears to only have one slot.
Like the previous comments, a drop of oil in the center part to lube the interface between the outside collar and the center "wedge". Then insert the center bolt and lightly tap it down, the center "wedge" part should pop loose.
Then throw it out and get a normal one.
Perhaps missing the top washer and spring:
Hmmm. It might be this one, found via google image search:
That's very odd, with a spring to tension it. Strange. It appears to only have one slot.
Like the previous comments, a drop of oil in the center part to lube the interface between the outside collar and the center "wedge". Then insert the center bolt and lightly tap it down, the center "wedge" part should pop loose.
Then throw it out and get a normal one.
Perhaps missing the top washer and spring:
Last edited by rm -rf; 04-25-18 at 06:07 PM.
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Iirc thats how mine is on the trek. Deadblow the center section with a drift rod & it should pop down & out.
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Was there an upper part(s) of the pressure plug that was removed before the photo was taken? It looks like what is shown is the lower cone and the "brake shoes" (as in what a drum brake would have, which is what pressure plug mimics). If so then the lower cone needs a tap from a punch and hammer to break it loose from the "shoes". With the poor photo it's hard to say if the brown stuff is corrosion, dirt or dried on food/drink gunk Andy
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Unfortunately there are no openings on the underside of the fork.
Thank you all for your input - I'll try lubrication followed by gentle tapping down with the screw in place.
Thank you all for your input - I'll try lubrication followed by gentle tapping down with the screw in place.