I've got a carbon steerer fork, and a FSA 1"1/8 a-head set on it. The guy at the LBS insisted that I should use one of those special expanding plugs instead of the standard star-nut which he said could/would wreck the carbon steerer. Now that's all fine, but I can't get it tight. I expand it a much as I dare, I suspect if I torque it up any more the threads will strip, and then when I put on the cap and tighten that up to hold the whole set together, the plug just slips.
So, what to do - resort to star-nut, tighten the plug to some massive torque, or ide with just the stem clamp holding the whole thing together, and the inevitable resulting play in the bearings...?
I've got a carbon steerer fork, and a FSA 1"1/8 a-head set on it. The guy at the LBS insisted that I should use one of those special expanding plugs instead of the standard star-nut which he said could/would wreck the carbon steerer. Now that's all fine, but I can't get it tight. I expand it a much as I dare, I suspect if I torque it up any more the threads will strip, and then when I put on the cap and tighten that up to hold the whole set together, the plug just slips.
So, what to do - resort to star-nut, tighten the plug to some massive torque, or ide with just the stem clamp holding the whole thing together, and the inevitable resulting play in the bearings...?
TIA David M
Looks like you and the bike need to visit the LBS guy who gave you the advice.
I hear the star-nut cuts the fibres, and that does seem a reasonable complaint. Another alternative is they epoxy in a 2" ali plug, with a threaded centre to suit the centre bolt.
"till!" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
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I hear the star-nut cuts the fibres, and that does seem a reasonable complaint. Another alternative is they epoxy in a 2" ali plug, with a threaded centre to suit the centre bolt.
till
Yep I read the same, someone also said they bent the arms of the SFN in with pliers so it didn't exert too much pressure. Doesn't really need much force to take up the bearing play, once the stem is tight you could take it out it's not doing anything.
"Davidm" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Hi all
I've got a carbon steerer fork, and a FSA 1"1/8 a-head set on it. The guy at the LBS insisted that I should use one of those special expanding plugs instead of the standard star-nut which he said could/would wreck the carbon steerer. Now that's all fine, but I can't get it tight. I expand it a much as I dare, I suspect if I torque it up any more the threads will strip, and then when I put on the cap and tighten that up to hold the whole set together, the plug just slips.
So, what to do - resort to star-nut, tighten the plug to some massive torque, or ide with just the stem clamp holding the whole thing together, and the inevitable resulting play in the bearings...?
I've never done it myself, but if the star-fangled nut is giving you problems, then theoretically you can just do away with it and the top cap (and save yourself some weight at the same time)
Use an endlessly threaded long bolt through the steerer tube with a couple of washers and nuts at either end to provide the appropriate preload to the steerer/stem (think of it as a kind of cobbled together headset press), and then when it's right, tighten up the stem bolts with a bit of loctite, remove the bolt and you're away..
at least, that's the theory... makes adjusting it in the field a mongrel however...
"Davidm" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Hi all
I've got a carbon steerer fork, and a FSA 1"1/8 a-head set on it. The guy
at
Quoted message said:
the LBS insisted that I should use one of those special expanding plugs instead of the standard star-nut which he said could/would wreck the
carbon
Quoted message said:
steerer. Now that's all fine, but I can't get it tight. I expand it a much as I dare, I suspect if I torque it up any more the threads will strip,
and
Quoted message said:
then when I put on the cap and tighten that up to hold the whole set together, the plug just slips.
The expanders come in different sizes in some brands. Good forks usually come with an expander plug to suit the fork, rather than the expander coming with the headset. Try a different model of expander. (I cheated and used some extra rubber o-rings when i got caught with one similar to the problem you're having...
"till!" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
I hear the star-nut cuts the fibres, and that does seem a reasonable complaint. Another alternative is they epoxy in a 2" ali plug, with a threaded centre to suit the centre bolt.
Another purpose of an expander plug is to prevent crushing of the tube by the stem.
"till!" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
I hear the star-nut cuts the fibres, and that does seem a reasonable complaint. Another alternative is they epoxy in a 2" ali plug, with a threaded centre to suit the centre bolt.
Another purpose of an expander plug is to prevent crushing of the tube by the stem.
I have the same issue. Carbon steerer and a fekking plug that slips like bambi on ice. Here is what I have done to minimise the problem. I have taken a file and attacked the expander plug, to create more friction between it and the inside of the steerer. Wash the expander plug, inside and outside of steerer and inside of stem that connects to stem, with alcohol. In my case gin did the trick. Just to remove grease and other stuff that will decrease friction. That has helped heaps for me anyway.
I have the same issue. Carbon steerer and a fekking plug that slips like bambi on ice. Here is what I have done to minimise the problem. I have taken a file and attacked the expander plug, to create more friction between it and the inside of the steerer. Wash the expander plug, inside and outside of steerer and inside of stem that connects to stem, with alcohol. In my case gin did the trick. Just to remove grease and other stuff that will decrease friction. That has helped heaps for me anyway.
Oh the horror!! :eek: Such a waste of perfectly good gin!!
Oh the horror!! :eek: Such a waste of perfectly good gin!!
Yeah, I normally really like gin, but bought an expensive one, Tanqueray 10 I think it is called. Nice as a gimlet, but [censored] as a GT. Sad. So, it came to good use anyway. 🙂
Yeah, hmm, I think the bambi thing is actually from Walt Disney. 🙂 But most swedes would understand for sure. Lino? Linoleum, "plastic" mat indoors?
Yep, linoleum. Went out of fashion, replaced by vinyl as floor covering, about 30 years ago but is now making a come-back as a high-end yuppie floor covering. Older Aussies may refer to any vinyl/plastic type floor cover as 'lino'.
"skids like a dog on lino" also brings to mind the sound of dog's claws trying to get a grip on the slippery lino.
One of my favourite sayings, along with "playing up like a second hand Victa (lawnmower)" or "fat as a Queensland copper's wallet". 😄
"Davidm" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
So, what to do - resort to star-nut, tighten the plug to some massive torque, or ide with just the stem clamp holding the whole thing together, and the inevitable resulting play in the bearings...?
Having tried RTFM, cleaning everything with metho, using emery paper to lightly hone the inside of the steerer, and considering using a brake cylinder hone on it, I decided to try the LBS. They were suprised to say the least, but having spent the morning on it we found that depending on the ID of the stem, all the different brands work differently. I ended up with a "profile" that works absolutely A1...some of the others worked OK, and some didn't work at all. So I learned something :-)
"Davidm" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
So, what to do - resort to star-nut, tighten the plug to some massive torque, or ide with just the stem clamp holding the whole thing together, and the inevitable resulting play in the bearings...?
Having tried RTFM, cleaning everything with metho, using emery paper to lightly hone the inside of the steerer, and considering using a brake cylinder hone on it, I decided to try the LBS. They were suprised to say the least, but having spent the morning on it we found that depending on the ID of the stem, all the different brands work differently. I ended up with a "profile" that works absolutely A1...some of the others worked OK, and some didn't work at all. So I learned something :-)
Thanks for all the suggestions btw...
Cheers David M
Keep one thing in mind. The torque is important, it is very EASY to tighten too loose. My stem has a print that says 8Nm. Now, that would mean roughly 0.8 kg hanging on a a meter long bar, parallell to the ground. Your little allen key is prolly 10 cm, max, that means you have to apply 8 kg of "weight". Now, that is hard with an allenkey, it is thin and uncomfy. So, you need to tighten it real hard. That has helped me a lot. I was defintely not tighten enough, and had some problems.
