12 years later and still helping out dude thank you!! I followed this and it was a breeze, didn't have a spare top cap and bolt to drop the star nut but a long socket worked perfectly. Appreciate it!!
Actually, I usually use a pipecutter, but this method made a PERFECT cut with little sanding needed afterwards. The upper part of the headset is sealed with rubber gaskets (above the compression ring) so no issue with the metal shavings. Thanks
yeah thats kinda what i was thinking. as someone who does mechanics for a living, i've ruined my share of bolts in that size range, like 1/4-20. that center bolt has some fine threads that can be easily damaged. the best techniques i've seen so far has been to use a small phillips screwdriver or a socket to tap it in.
also there's nothing wrong with cutting the bike on the fork, just put a bit of containment over the steerer tube and the bearings so all that fine dust doesn't get in there. if you get a small garbage bag and poke a hole thru it with a pen, u can stretch the hole over the steerer tube below the cut line, and the bag tight over the tube will prevent crap from getting into bearings.
If you're worried about damaging the treads, buy two M5 nuts (not so easy to find, but if you can), thread both of them down so that the bolt will protrude above the top cap, tighten them together to lock them in place, then thread the bolt down till the nuts hit the star fangled nut. This increases the "fiddle factor", but prevents thread damage.
I'd strongly advice to remove the fork after marking the cutting line and before doing any tapping, cutting and filing. It would make the cutting job much easier and cleaner, but more importantly, it would save the delicate headset bearings to collect any aluminium dust. Just a vacuum cleaner cannot suck the particles that are small enough to penetrate into the headset and then stick onto the greasy bearings.
@@brucewayne3141 but not well. People who care about their bikes won't do this. The shavings will grid away at the steerer and bearings, creating play, screwing the system
Like the idea of getting the right depth of the star nut using a spare bolt and stem cap. The use of a simple hose clamp as a guide was great too! As other's mentioned, not thrilled about cutting and filing the tube while still installed on the frame. I'd bet the cost of a new headset those metal filings made their way into the bearings, if they didn't, considered yourself lucky. Take the time to disassemble the brakes from the fork and remove the fork from the frame, and wipe the crown thoroughly after cutting and filing.
Tips: You can keep the vacuum cleaner running to suck metal dust away, and the handlebar can be attached to the frame or the fork by a Velcro strap to prevent it from wiggling around.
Glad it helped! I would definitely do it a bit different, including removing the fork and laying it flat to help keep the cut straight, plus it's easier on the wrists :)
Thank you for showing me the techniques that I will NOT be using when I install my fork later this week! Seriously, if you're about to undertake this task, keep looking for other videos that show better ways to do this, even using cheap homemade tools.
+PRELUDEDRIVEN MTB Check out RJTheBikeGuy's channel. He shows you how to make a crown race install tool out of PVC pipe and a bearing cup press out of cheap items you can get at Home Depot (threaded rod, washers and nuts. You can also make a star nut press in a similar fashion. I've done all of these tasks using these homemade tools and they worked great.
+Heath Weber Not sure how RJ The Bike Guy's videos apply to this video. I have looked through his videos on forks and have found none on cutting the steerer tube. As for the homemade tools for headset removal and installation that is old news. Home bike mechanics have been using those methods for years. I have never seen a good homemade saw guide for cutting the steerer tube. Best I have seen is using two hose clamps. Always remove fork from bike, put steerer tube in vise, put hose clamps on each side of cutting mark, cut with hacksaw. A carbide blade is best for cutting the tube. Of course a professional saw guide is much better. Nashbar has one for 15 bucks.
For an amateur his techniques were not all bad.... yes he could have removed the fork, yes, he could have tapped down the star-nut with something other then another fastener, yes he could have held the file perpendicular to the fork (90degrees), yes he could have protected the bearings from the filings, but the final product turned out just fine and nothing was damaged...so, I don't understand a lot of the comments on this video....I say "Well Done" Prelude Driver Can anyone here explain what the job of the Star-Nut is for?
Thanks. I was wondering how to get that star nut down, and whether it was really okay to cut my fork. I will leave a few millimetres more but will give it a go.
You're an animal!!! that was a great idea man. I'm actually going to help my buddy cut his seat post tomorrow morning. I'm going to use that hose clamp idea :)
You are suppose to always have a think spacer between the cap and the stem. if your steerer tube can't cover the whole stem then your steerer tube is too short.
the job was fine I'll soon be doing pretty much the same probably just throw a rag around all the stuff so I don't get metal on everything but might not have thought of that if I didn't watch the video
Hi! Can the star nut be pulled out in case the star nut is push inside too far or pulling it out will ruin the nut and can it be replaced by a new star nut in case it is ruined? Thanks!
Still think it would have made a neater job using a pipe cutter, anyway i understand it doesn't need to be removed but say you strip the threads or just want it out for whatever reason, is there a way to remove them without destroying it.
+SUM1SLY83 screw the straight cut. once the stem and cap is on no one sees it. Crooked cuts will lower resell value of the fork later on. $10 says that fork wont have any resell value anyways.
12 years later and still helping out dude thank you!! I followed this and it was a breeze, didn't have a spare top cap and bolt to drop the star nut but a long socket worked perfectly. Appreciate it!!
Actually, I usually use a pipecutter, but this method made a PERFECT cut with little sanding needed afterwards. The upper part of the headset is sealed with rubber gaskets (above the compression ring) so no issue with the metal shavings. Thanks
Thanks man. The technique of putting a clamp to ensure the safety and precision cutting helped me to reduce the size of my handlebars to perfection.
herknork Good to hear! Thanks!
Don't cut the tube while installed in the frame. All the shit will be dropping into the bearings etc.
N
yeah thats kinda what i was thinking. as someone who does mechanics for a living, i've ruined my share of bolts in that size range, like 1/4-20. that center bolt has some fine threads that can be easily damaged. the best techniques i've seen so far has been to use a small phillips screwdriver or a socket to tap it in.
also there's nothing wrong with cutting the bike on the fork, just put a bit of containment over the steerer tube and the bearings so all that fine dust doesn't get in there. if you get a small garbage bag and poke a hole thru it with a pen, u can stretch the hole over the steerer tube below the cut line, and the bag tight over the tube will prevent crap from getting into bearings.
But can we just over the headset with tape?
Robert Roxborough that's what I was thinking
Mmmmm get all those nice metal shards into your headset
If you're worried about damaging the treads, buy two M5 nuts (not so easy to find, but if you can), thread both of them down so that the bolt will protrude above the top cap, tighten them together to lock them in place, then thread the bolt down till the nuts hit the star fangled nut. This increases the "fiddle factor", but prevents thread damage.
I'd strongly advice to remove the fork after marking the cutting line and before doing any tapping, cutting and filing. It would make the cutting job much easier and cleaner, but more importantly, it would save the delicate headset bearings to collect any aluminium dust. Just a vacuum cleaner cannot suck the particles that are small enough to penetrate into the headset and then stick onto the greasy bearings.
headset bearings are not a part of drive train so they can rust, dirty, worn and still function.
@@brucewayne3141 but not well. People who care about their bikes won't do this. The shavings will grid away at the steerer and bearings, creating play, screwing the system
@burce Wayne well they would obviously work better is the weren’t filled with aluminium and dirt
Like the idea of getting the right depth of the star nut using a spare bolt and stem cap. The use of a simple hose clamp as a guide was great too! As other's mentioned, not thrilled about cutting and filing the tube while still installed on the frame. I'd bet the cost of a new headset those metal filings made their way into the bearings, if they didn't, considered yourself lucky. Take the time to disassemble the brakes from the fork and remove the fork from the frame, and wipe the crown thoroughly after cutting and filing.
True, totally should have pulled it from the bike. The upper cap is rubber sealed, as are the bearings, so no issues crept up :)
another way around of great Technics on how to cut a steering tube using hose clamp as a guide, awesome men. thanks for the video
To leave 5 - 10mm above the stem for adjustment. It also keeps the front end stiffer.
Tips: You can keep the vacuum cleaner running to suck metal dust away, and the handlebar can be attached to the frame or the fork by a Velcro strap to prevent it from wiggling around.
Man awesome video need to trim the steer tube on my 2001 Marzocchi shiver dual crown for an oem direct mount stem install. The starnut idea is perfect
Glad it helped! I would definitely do it a bit different, including removing the fork and laying it flat to help keep the cut straight, plus it's easier on the wrists :)
Thanks for posting its going to make cutting my forks so much easier and at far less cost than I thought it would be as well.
Thanks for sharing, this was useful to see it work, I have to do this myself to my bike right now.
Badass!
Glad it helped!
Thank you for showing me the techniques that I will NOT be using when I install my fork later this week! Seriously, if you're about to undertake this task, keep looking for other videos that show better ways to do this, even using cheap homemade tools.
+Heath Weber Thanks for the feedback man. What homemade tools can I try out?
+PRELUDEDRIVEN MTB Check out RJTheBikeGuy's channel. He shows you how to make a crown race install tool out of PVC pipe and a bearing cup press out of cheap items you can get at Home Depot (threaded rod, washers and nuts. You can also make a star nut press in a similar fashion. I've done all of these tasks using these homemade tools and they worked great.
+Heath Weber This the video ? /watch?v=YihpeW5l2TE
+Heath Weber You can make your comment actually useful by providing the link ;)
+Heath Weber Not sure how RJ The Bike Guy's videos apply to this video. I have looked through his videos on forks and have found none on cutting the steerer tube. As for the homemade tools for headset removal and installation that is old news. Home bike mechanics have been using those methods for years. I have never seen a good homemade saw guide for cutting the steerer tube. Best I have seen is using two hose clamps. Always remove fork from bike, put steerer tube in vise, put hose clamps on each side of cutting mark, cut with hacksaw. A carbide blade is best for cutting the tube. Of course a professional saw guide is much better. Nashbar has one for 15 bucks.
For an amateur his techniques were not all bad.... yes he could have removed the fork, yes, he could have tapped down the star-nut with something other then another fastener, yes he could have held the file perpendicular to the fork (90degrees), yes he could have protected the bearings from the filings, but the final product turned out just fine and nothing was damaged...so, I don't understand a lot of the comments on this video....I say "Well Done" Prelude Driver
Can anyone here explain what the job of the Star-Nut is for?
it secures the top cap.
Bearing pre-load
Need / want to cut my steerer down, but was worried about the starnut - a couple more watches of this may ease my worries
What an excellant idea to use a compression ring.Will do this for my new forks.Many thanks and wishing you a happy new year from the UK.
nice technique in marking where to cut and how to push the starnut..
Thank you! Cheers!
Thanks. I was wondering how to get that star nut down, and whether it was really okay to cut my fork. I will leave a few millimetres more but will give it a go.
sick vid - watched then had my excess steerer length trimmed & the fork reinstalled within 15 minutes
Cool. Only thing I would do differently would be to use sand paper and a block rather than a file on aluminum as it will plug the file.
You're an animal!!! that was a great idea man. I'm actually going to help my buddy cut his seat post tomorrow morning. I'm going to use that hose clamp idea :)
NICE...MOST EFFICIENT WAY TO DO THIS...THANKS FOR THIS VIDEO
Hey, I'm running that same stem right now on my 29er!!
Pro job there, great idea with the clamp I'll find one when I do mine
pipe cutter man....right tool for the right job.
Don't forget to tighten up the bolts on your stem,
this video should be how not to cut a fork tube ...swarf all over the bike its just lazy
How long bolt did you use to push star more inside? Because actual bolt wont be long enough
Great question, I don’t remember the actual length of the bolt, but it was 1 inch longer than the standard bolt, with the same threads.
Nice video. I like your idea of using a hose clamp. Thank you....
Thank you for this useful video
You're welcome!
Awesome bro!! Watching your guide and making my cut right now.
I trimmed the steerer to match the length of the stock fork
this is great, man. may have to give this a try. thanks.
Great vid, helped me a lot!
Hell yes DIY for life !
good idea/video
However you should have a 5mm spacer above the stem. Also, you got swarf everywhere!
Literally no need to have a spacer above the stem.
This ones so good ma man! thanks for showing us this.
You are suppose to always have a think spacer between the cap and the stem. if your steerer tube can't cover the whole stem then your steerer tube is too short.
If you use a long expansion plug you do not have to cut the steerer. Although a cut steerer looks better.
That's a good point. I do care a lot about my bike's looks though - guilty lol!
Thanks for the info/vid. Now I only have to pay $15 to my LBS to replace my headset cups, instead of $60 to do all of this.
Is there any tangible benefit of doing this beside look factor?
the job was fine I'll soon be doing pretty much the same probably just throw a rag around all the stuff so I don't get metal on everything but might not have thought of that if I didn't watch the video
👏 Great Job!
Hi! Can the star nut be pulled out in case the star nut is push inside too far or pulling it out will ruin the nut and can it be replaced by a new star nut in case it is ruined? Thanks!
+Jobert Cadag (Bert) Nope. That baby only goes one way. It has to hold the tension of the headset bearings.
hey man! excellent video. thanks for the idea
I have the same light. Its works great.
thx for the vid ! and would have been an easier cut if you put the bike down on its side. That way you could saw in a normal position lol :)
eternalR81 Thanks. Yah that is for sure but I didn't have a workbench or stand at the time. Will do that next time! :)
Thank you for sharing this video
You're welcome. I want to redo this video with the fork removed from the bike, but the process aside from that is what I use to this day!
Good job! Thanks for posting.
Top vid. Cheers
Thank you!
can you do this method on carbon too? :)
My only suggestion is to have a pipe clamp above and below the cut line.
Park Tool SG-6 Threadless Saw Guide , $30 shipped on ebay.
Why can't you just leave the spacers on top? Is it just for cosmetic reasons?
How long did it actually take to get through the tube with a hacksaw?
Great vid!
How much harder if you take out the fork, cut it and reinstall?
Not hard at all...pretty easy actually, which I should have done. Next time!
What would happen if the steer tube didnt get cut????
hose clamp rocks
cheers
Didn't look a straight cut to me.
How do you get the star nut out, do you just destroy them an buy a new one ?
The filing will straighten out the cut. The star nut doesn't have to be removed, just tapped in slightly to spec.
Still think it would have made a neater job using a pipe cutter, anyway i understand it doesn't need to be removed but say you strip the threads or just want it out for whatever reason, is there a way to remove them without destroying it.
+SUM1SLY83 screw the straight cut. once the stem and cap is on no one sees it. Crooked cuts will lower resell value of the fork later on. $10 says that fork wont have any resell value anyways.
Good to hear!
Nice! Good Luck!
nice job!
Cheers, that was exactly the type of video I've been looking for.
Looks like you trimmed the steerer a little too low. But it's better to leaver
how do i know how far down to go?
Your hands cover what are you doing when you inserting the star nut!
You just need to hold the top cap in place to act as a guide to keep the star nut straight :)
Thanks for watching!
Hammering the starfangled nut like that is a great way to ruin the headset bearings. I wouldn't do that to my bike.
+Tim Hollingworth Looks like the tyre was absorbing any potential shock to the bearings.
aaah no need pen or pencil, just use stainless clamp and it should be neat
thank a lot man
Nice pajamas!
3mm below your line. That's where u cut.
I’d rather cut aluminum than carbon
Oh nooooo the metal shavings is no good for your bearings
no seria mejor con un cortador de tubos
cool !
Wow - learn how to properly use a file.
"How to damage your bike and reduce the resale value of your fork/ frameset" is a more appropriate title.
:) Good idea, but this cutting of the steerer tube did not damage either, nor did it affect resale value.
steehrer grubunu arıyodum nereye geldim amk
Absolutely barbaric!
THIS MAN IS NOT A MAN RATHER AN ANIMAL
po co to w ogole wycina lepiej jak kiera jest wyzej
+paweł aaron I couldn't have said it better.
wtf have i just watched. take the fork off the bike and saw it in a vice ffs. what a mess
This is not how you do it. Please don't follow this method.
I think a baby could know how to cut a tube for the front forks lmao
What an excellant idea to use a compression ring.Will do this for my new forks.Many thanks and wishing you a happy new year from the UK.