All,
I have a Trek 4500 with a Rockshox Judy C fork. I want to start using it as my main commuter and therefore are looking to replace it with a rigid fork (i looked at a Surly 1x1). The LBS charges $45 for the complete installation.
Question is, can I install it myself? I am reasonably thechnical and feel comfortable doing most of the bike maintenance myself, but I have never done this. The mechanic at the LBS mentioned needing special tools (to face the crown race seat of the fork?). I don't have any of these tools

Would it be worth, money wise as well as experience wise, to try it myself?

Any advice is appreciated
Duppie

Ive never faced a fork.
I tap crown races on ALL THE TIME with a rubber hammer and a screw driver. I wouldnt do this on a CF fork, but on all my crap, it works great.

i believe it should be am not are

anyways, you will need a crown race, and a star nut, and a star nut setter if you want it perfect. Some of the fsa crown races just slip on, thats probably your best bet for DIY

Does anyone know of specific instructions for installing a new threadless fork? I looked at the usual suspects (Parktool, Sheldon Brown, my books at home) but no one seemed to have that detailed information
Any reference to online links or books would be appreciated
Thanks, Duppie

OP, you can probably get the crown race off the old fork if you carefully use a blunt, flathead screwdriver and a hammer. PVC pipe of the appropriate inside diameter, probably 1 1/8" in this case, works great for installing the crown race on the fork. You will, as noted above, need a new star nut for the new fork. I use a flathead screwdriver and a hammer to install star nuts, but as noted above, they do make a special tool for this.

The most critical part is cutting the fork's steerer to the correct length. Measure twice, cut once!

You are right, I shouldn't correct someone elses writing if i won't correct my own.

That's a good attitude. Your correction of the OP's grammar just seemed ironic, and I couldn't resist zinging you a little.

Thanks for your advice. I think I know how to do this now, based on this and other threads and I just might give it a try...
I have one question, and it may be a dumb one...
I realize I should measure carefully and cut only once. But what is the right height? Should I just replace the washers that are on my stem and call it the day? Can I heighten it somewhat (limeted of course by the toal stem length)? How would I go about that?
Can I test ride it, meaning installing the washers and stem and ride it for a few days and then adjust it before swaing it to the correct length? Or would that be a dangerous thing to do? Is the topcap required to ride safely?

Thanks, Duppie