Hey RJ, how would would you hold the threaded rivet in place if the top cap bolt is just spinning in place. I had to dremel out the top cap! Needless to say my stem is looking rough.
My man.....thank you for explaining this. I just bought a 300$ bike from a guy that said his front steering was falling apart and it turned out to be this fangled star but was coming out from over tightening I assume. I took a hammer and screwdriver pushed it back in, reset and tightened the top cap and bingo! It's working perfectly fine!
You must be the guy with the bigger number of helpful tutorials bike videos on hearth!! THANK YOU! Maybe I'm one of the greatest watchers you have, for so long.
Bro, not many people talk about this damn nut. You're the boss! Thank you so much! My fork has a column in the bottom, probably for extra support, that does not allow to push the nuts out. I already had one down there and the one I was currently using simply broke and the internal threaded part was spinning with the bolt, making it impossible to loosen and remove it. That would've made 2 nuts down the fork, I was even about to call it the nut cemetery lol. Thank you so much!
Sir you are an absolute lifesaver!! My road bike fork has no lower opening below the steterer, I thought my broken starnut was stuck for good. Thank you!!
The threaded part as completely sheared off my star nut inside my forks and I thought I had to buy new forks but after searching on TH-cam I found that you can get those star nuts separate Thanks, RJ.
Just removed my star nut from my Marzocchi forks using this method, the one I had to was too deep so needed to come out. This method worked a treat and took me longer to get the tools out then to do the actual job, utmost respect 👍
Thanks for the great video 👍😎. As usual, RJ the Bike Guy comes through again. I bought a used Trek bicycle that the previous owner messed up the star nut. Your guidance helped me fix the problem. Thanks 👍😉
Just done this and took about 5 mins to drill out and fit a new star nut with a cable hole to internal the front brake. Great tip to a job that would otherwise been a pig.
Excellent video. I am swapping forks over and the steerer is just too short for the new bike. Fortunately, a Hope head doctor will work fine, but I needed to take the star nut out. The video has given me confidence to drill it out. Thanks.
Great video RJ,i thought they were very difficult to remove because it's a wedge,it drilled like buttter but i used a industrial drill press at work.Hitting on the edge really so it sits sideways for removal is then job done.Cheers.
you always make great vids! I have bought a few used forks cut horribly crooked, so the star nut doesn't center when installing. One time I banged it all the way down through the bottom with some socket extensions only to find that the previous owner had sunk not one...but 3 star nuts in there already!!!
Thanks. I know it is old but very helpful. There are a lot of reasons to remove to star nut. Replacing with a superlight expander type or a steerer extender are two reasons. Cervelo uses carbon and an aluminum inner sleeve on many of its steerers so a star nut may be installed in them.
It's not even a heavy gauge thick metal. My advice to people that watch this video go to walmart buy a Pb Blaster rust eater or DW40 use a 3/8 15mm socket attached it to a long 3/8 socket extension spray the star nut with the pb or the DW40 connect your 3/8 socket and extension all together turn your fork upside down insert your socket and extension on the hole use a hammer to punch the star nut out. and believe me it works coz that's what i did on mine.
Thanks! I am an avid subscriber and learned a lot about bike repair from your videos. I have a question. I cannot find a store that sells a star nut for 1 inch fork anymore? Every star nut sold now is made for a 1-1/8inch fork. Any advice? Thanks.
I just bought a new pair of cheap forks for my cheap bike, just for commuting to and from work, since the forks that came on the bike, were i think maybe, cast iron. So I cut the old fork steerer just below the star nut and put the threaded nut back into the thread and hammered it out.
I once found four different star fangled nuts inside a fork I was servicing. My guess is they kept slipping and the owner (or bike shop) would just pound in a new one in every time.
@@hardcoretam Yeah. This was a while ago...it was an old Indy SL or Judy (can't remember). Just banged them all the way through the bottom with a drift.
Your pull method worked perfect for me, thanks! Just done to save weight for free. No need for star nut. Just use expander headset as tool to set stem height and tension, then remove and cover with plastic cap :-)
Love your vids, thanks for doing this! Would ordering a new star-fangled nut and installing it above the old one be a decent/inexpensive way to raise the handlebars slightly? My spacers are at their capacity, should I get a longer screw and just place more spacers?
hmmm, I just bought a new bike frame with a shorter headtube so i need to shorten my steerer tube. I never thought to just push it down and reuse it. i was going to remove it but I think now I'll just reuse it. I think I'll just have to cut small sections off the steerer tube and lower the star nut down as I go to the point where i want it to be and the length where I want the steerer tube to be. Here's to hoping my crappy pipe cutter tool can last long enough for maybe three cuts lol. On second thought I think I'm going to buy a new pipe cutter considering I had a hard time shortening my handlebars with this pipe cutter.
Will this work with carbon steerers? I assume I would have to go uo in small increments and not spin the nut My Cannondale Synapse 2 actually has a star nut from the factory..I may just leave it in and see if I can get the Specialized compression plug in.. yes I know that once the headset is set and the stem clamped you don't need the top camp and bolt anymore
Some moron installed a star nut in the carbon steerer of a used frameset I bought. They gouged the carbon circumferentially during the insertion. Fortunately, the steerer is too long for me so I need to cut it but the cut would be ABOVE or THROUGH the star nut. I can't very well pound it through on a road fork since it only has a small drain hole at the bottom of the steerer... not to mention that I"d basically be reaming out the full length of the steerer. So, will try to drill it out. And, of course, use a proper expansion plug designed for carbon steerers when I re-assemble the bike.
Star Nuts in the fork are such a major lame design ! Here's why: Sometimes if you reef on the stem bolt you'll find that the threaded star nut is now spinning freely in the stars, way down in the stem... That's bad. You can't get your neck off, or the fork either. Try to drill the nut off the top and you find that it spins anyway so you can't. ( You are now screwed. At this point I won't go into the various options of getting yourself unscrewed from this dilemma. ) I will say that IF you should buy a new star nut set, PLEASE bore out the threads of the star nut. Pass the draw bolt (get a longer one) THROUGH the star nut hole since it's bored out now. Then put a nut on the other end using a wratchet extension up under the stem from below, - assuming your fork is open to below. This is like a manual version of a wedge bolt stem.
I pressed mine out at work, using a hydraulic press and a length of 3/4 stainless tube we had lying around. I didn't know they were called a 'star fangled nut' so I went into a bike shop in York and had to draw it for the bloke behing the desk. I would say you need a more solid work bench I could see it moving!
I need to remove my star nut as the threaded part in the middle spins around so I can't tighten the bolt. I'll try this method tomorrow and order a new star nut. By the way the tube on my head is completely closed at the bottom.
For an open bottomed tube I would throw a bolt in it, then push the nut almost through the bottom so the bolt can be clearly seen sticking out the bottom
I think I got them at Harbor Freight, but I am not seeing them on their site. Here is something similar at Amazon: www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B018QNM7V2/ref=nosim/youtube25-20
Great video but whoever designed the star nut made possibly the dumbest solution to a simple problem ever. Mine simply spins, marring up the inside diameter of the fork. Can't get it out because I can't loosen it any further, but it's far too loose to ride on.
my bad, i mean it's not stuck cause by a corotion, it's the bolt has losing its grip, i can't tight or loose them.. so they stuck there for nothing.. after i pulled out the bolt i'm pretty sure can try this method on your video to remove the starnut, and replacing the new one, thanks *sorry for my bad english
One reason to remove it is if you not only have a no use for it all ( currently the case for me ) but if it actually ends up in the way ( soon the case for me ) like when you're planning to use the headtube as a storage space for a Shimano Di2 Battery after you lost your alternative in the seat post due to a Dropper Seat Post. Not using a Star nut though requires the use of a purpose-built stem like the *PRO Tharsis* or *PRO Koryak*
![How To Cut A Bike Steerer Tube and Tap Starnut Down - [Cheap Hacksaw Method]](/img/n.gif)
For more bike repair videos hit the subscribe button ► bit.ly/SubRJTheBikeGuy
Hey RJ, how would would you hold the threaded rivet in place if the top cap bolt is just spinning in place.
I had to dremel out the top cap! Needless to say my stem is looking rough.
I LOVE your vid; no lousy music or any kind, no nonsense talking, straight to the point. two thumbs up!!👍👍🌹🌹
My man.....thank you for explaining this. I just bought a 300$ bike from a guy that said his front steering was falling apart and it turned out to be this fangled star but was coming out from over tightening I assume. I took a hammer and screwdriver pushed it back in, reset and tightened the top cap and bingo! It's working perfectly fine!
You must be the guy with the bigger number of helpful tutorials bike videos on hearth!! THANK YOU! Maybe I'm one of the greatest watchers you have, for so long.
maybe I am one of the greatest watchers he has!
Bro, not many people talk about this damn nut. You're the boss! Thank you so much! My fork has a column in the bottom, probably for extra support, that does not allow to push the nuts out. I already had one down there and the one I was currently using simply broke and the internal threaded part was spinning with the bolt, making it impossible to loosen and remove it. That would've made 2 nuts down the fork, I was even about to call it the nut cemetery lol.
Thank you so much!
😅
Sir you are an absolute lifesaver!! My road bike fork has no lower opening below the steterer, I thought my broken starnut was stuck for good. Thank you!!
The threaded part as completely sheared off my star nut inside my forks and I thought I had to buy new forks but after searching on TH-cam I found that you can get those star nuts separate Thanks, RJ.
Got my star nut back in super easy to do thanks again RJ.
Just removed my star nut from my Marzocchi forks using this method, the one I had to was too deep so needed to come out. This method worked a treat and took me longer to get the tools out then to do the actual job, utmost respect 👍
Thanks for the great video 👍😎. As usual, RJ the Bike Guy comes through again. I bought a used Trek bicycle that the previous owner messed up the star nut. Your guidance helped me fix the problem. Thanks 👍😉
This video literally saved my fork as it’s the only thing that worked I can’t thank you enough 😀 you have a great channel man keep going 😀👍
The bicycle mechanic's national anthem - "The Star-Fangled Spanner".
LMFAO
😂use a torch & liquify it
My starnut in my fork was slippery inside and followed your advice and took it out successfully. Many thanks !!
Just done this and took about 5 mins to drill out and fit a new star nut with a cable hole to internal the front brake. Great tip to a job that would otherwise been a pig.
great!
Excellent video. I am swapping forks over and the steerer is just too short for the new bike. Fortunately, a Hope head doctor will work fine, but I needed to take the star nut out. The video has given me confidence to drill it out. Thanks.
Thank you! I wasn't sure if I'd be able to drive it through. Can't believe I didn't think about drilling it.
They really are stubborn, always a pleasure to watch! Thanks for the advice Andy
Thank you I have a very hard time getting them out over the years. Thanks for showing us how to do this.
Thanks RJ the legacy you left to humanity will never be forgotten
Really helpful vid thanks.
I bought some forks with a steering tube too short for my frame, I'm adding an extender today.
Great video RJ,i thought they were very difficult to remove because it's a wedge,it drilled like buttter but i used a industrial drill press at work.Hitting on the edge really so it sits sideways for removal is then job done.Cheers.
you always make great vids! I have bought a few used forks cut horribly crooked, so the star nut doesn't center when installing. One time I banged it all the way down through the bottom with some socket extensions only to find that the previous owner had sunk not one...but 3 star nuts in there already!!!
That is why I use a guide when cutting forks.
Or you can use a tube cutter, to cut the steerer tube of the forks.
Thanks for this video, I hav been wondering for awhile now how threadless headsets were held together and what were the top caps screwed on to.
Thanks. I know it is old but very helpful. There are a lot of reasons to remove to star nut. Replacing with a superlight expander type or a steerer extender are two reasons. Cervelo uses carbon and an aluminum inner sleeve on many of its steerers so a star nut may be installed in them.
And the first prize to TH-cam's best bike mechanic goes to...:-)
Calvin Jones
It's not even a heavy gauge thick metal. My advice to people that watch this video go to walmart buy a Pb Blaster rust eater or DW40 use a 3/8 15mm socket attached it to a long 3/8 socket extension spray the star nut with the pb or the DW40 connect your 3/8 socket and extension all together turn your fork upside down insert your socket and extension on the hole use a hammer to punch the star nut out. and believe me it works coz that's what i did on mine.
Thanks! I am an avid subscriber and learned a lot about bike repair from your videos. I have a question. I cannot find a store that sells a star nut for 1 inch fork anymore? Every star nut sold now is made for a 1-1/8inch fork. Any advice? Thanks.
Thanks for this. A star nut popped out of the rivet. Searched for how to remove it and your video came up.
Whew I broke mine off. I’m happy I can do this
I just bought a new pair of cheap forks for my cheap bike, just for commuting to and from work, since the forks that came on the bike, were i think maybe, cast iron.
So I cut the old fork steerer just below the star nut and put the threaded nut back into the thread and hammered it out.
I used the technique you used drill a hole and knock it sideways and pull out worked a treat great idea 👍
My top cap screw snapped in the star fangled nut thank you very much for this
Thanks. Was able to knock it out the bottom of the Fox fork steer tube. Replace it with a Problem Solvers compression plug.
Wao looks difficult but not impossible!!! Excellent job done!
Thanks, I have a Trek Multi 720 which the stem locking bolt broke off luckily I wasn't riding. I had no idea how to fix it. Thanks
Very helpful! Thank you RJ!
so nice, this is pure gold for learning
Crystal clear explanation and visual walkthrough. “Crystal” (Tom Cruise)
Are we Clear? (Jack Nicholson)
Wow, using a 3/8 drill and punching it out was like 5min job! It was longer to get out the drill and drill bits..😅 Thanks RJ..!
I once found four different star fangled nuts inside a fork I was servicing. My guess is they kept slipping and the owner (or bike shop) would just pound in a new one in every time.
Did you remove them all?
@@hardcoretam Yeah. This was a while ago...it was an old Indy SL or Judy (can't remember). Just banged them all the way through the bottom with a drift.
Hah! Waw wondering how to remove this with no tools and there you are, posting a new vid. Thank you!
Your pull method worked perfect for me, thanks! Just done to save weight for free. No need for star nut. Just use expander headset as tool to set stem height and tension, then remove and cover with plastic cap :-)
God I always end up finding the solution on your channel. Thanks RJ
Love your vids, thanks for doing this! Would ordering a new star-fangled nut and installing it above the old one be a decent/inexpensive way to raise the handlebars slightly? My spacers are at their capacity, should I get a longer screw and just place more spacers?
No
hmmm, I just bought a new bike frame with a shorter headtube so i need to shorten my steerer tube. I never thought to just push it down and reuse it. i was going to remove it but I think now I'll just reuse it. I think I'll just have to cut small sections off the steerer tube and lower the star nut down as I go to the point where i want it to be and the length where I want the steerer tube to be. Here's to hoping my crappy pipe cutter tool can last long enough for maybe three cuts lol. On second thought I think I'm going to buy a new pipe cutter considering I had a hard time shortening my handlebars with this pipe cutter.
Thanks for this - you've saved my day.
Will this work with carbon steerers? I assume I would have to go uo in small increments and not spin the nut My Cannondale Synapse 2 actually has a star nut from the factory..I may just leave it in and see if I can get the Specialized compression plug in.. yes I know that once the headset is set and the stem clamped you don't need the top camp and bolt anymore
i have a stem cap that has a go pro mount system. can i put it in the botton hole of the fork while using a normal one in the top then.. no?
I put a broomstick and hit it on the ground with the fork and it comes out in 3s
haha, I did the same :P
This helps a lot I need to remove the nut out of my friends forks cause the skew that goes through the compression cap was to big for the stock one
Classic. Carefully drill... start at half speed ;) In all seriousness, great vid, good explanation. Liked!!
Some moron installed a star nut in the carbon steerer of a used frameset I bought. They gouged the carbon circumferentially during the insertion. Fortunately, the steerer is too long for me so I need to cut it but the cut would be ABOVE or THROUGH the star nut. I can't very well pound it through on a road fork since it only has a small drain hole at the bottom of the steerer... not to mention that I"d basically be reaming out the full length of the steerer. So, will try to drill it out. And, of course, use a proper expansion plug designed for carbon steerers when I re-assemble the bike.
Very good job on this RJ
Regular Guy Mountain Biking you are everywhere!
Thank you very much RJ
Another clever video. Thanks
impressive :) I just push them down a bit, like you also mentioned
Do i have to take this out when taking off my forks?
No.
No just remove the stem and the front brake and i will basically drop out (if you have the newer type of stem and fork setup)
Fedor van Meeuwen thanks, helped a lot. I was struggling for hours
Thanks ,great video.
Star Nuts in the fork are such a major lame design ! Here's why: Sometimes if you reef on the stem bolt you'll find that the threaded star nut is now spinning freely in the stars, way down in the stem... That's bad. You can't get your neck off, or the fork either. Try to drill the nut off the top and you find that it spins anyway so you can't. ( You are now screwed. At this point I won't go into the various options of getting yourself unscrewed from this dilemma. ) I will say that IF you should buy a new star nut set, PLEASE bore out the threads of the star nut. Pass the draw bolt (get a longer one) THROUGH the star nut hole since it's bored out now. Then put a nut on the other end using a wratchet extension up under the stem from below, - assuming your fork is open to below. This is like a manual version of a wedge bolt stem.
Good demonstration. Thanks. I enjoy your videos.
I pressed mine out at work, using a hydraulic press and a length of 3/4 stainless tube we had lying around. I didn't know they were called a 'star fangled nut' so I went into a bike shop in York and had to draw it for the bloke behing the desk. I would say you need a more solid work bench I could see it moving!
Super star. Thank you!
Thanks!
Thanks this is what I was looking for. I got a Trek 4500 with Vintage Aheadset SE-1 steerer tube won't tighten up with wedge? Maybe I need to replace?
Thanks RJ. That did the trick !
Great tip.
Watched the video then did exactly the same myself. RJ is THE Bike Guy
I need to remove my star nut as the threaded part in the middle spins around so I can't tighten the bolt. I'll try this method tomorrow and order a new star nut. By the way the tube on my head is completely closed at the bottom.
Always use a craftsman screwdriver as a chisel!! that way you can return it for a new one.
You are 🇨🇦 Canada, dude ! 😄
For an open bottomed tube I would throw a bolt in it, then push the nut almost through the bottom so the bolt can be clearly seen sticking out the bottom
Drilling while only wearing socks... Great video none the less! ^^
Great video 👍🏻
勉強になりました！
同じ様にやってみます😉
where did you get those blocks on your vice ? ............. also thanks for the great video
I think I got them at Harbor Freight, but I am not seeing them on their site. Here is something similar at Amazon: www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B018QNM7V2/ref=nosim/youtube25-20
.✔ Awesome; 3/8" drill bit is the boy😉 - worked very well.
Love your vids. Your screwdriver is pretty heavily magnetized. :-)
You can use a hammer and the bolt to remove it. Although it ruins the star
Hey RJ I'm restoring my bsa Mach 01 cycle can install drop bar shifter on that cycle
If you have drop bars, yes.
RJ The Bike Guy is there a way that I can sent you my cycle's photos and then you can tell me that can I put drop bar shifter
Thank you for sharing this
So usefull bro
Thanks a bunch for this.
Great video but whoever designed the star nut made possibly the dumbest solution to a simple problem ever. Mine simply spins, marring up the inside diameter of the fork. Can't get it out because I can't loosen it any further, but it's far too loose to ride on.
very useful - thanks
can we use compression plug in alloy steerer ?
I believe so.
Can I transfer it to another fork?
very good video thanks!
Wow! This is a Nice Idea!
tnx sa tutorial
Wow... Thanks a lot, man. I was thinking & thinking about this issue! =)))
Thanks. Good video.
Hey my Star Fangled Nut in my fork broke. Do i get a new one or what plz help. Your fan.
Get a new one. th-cam.com/video/bCo10cML5iU/w-d-xo.html
Thx.
Does this really hold the fork in place? I mean if I don't put it on at all what will happen?
It's used to tighten down the stem tension the bearings. The stem then clamps down and holds the fork in place.
Nice!
thanks ..need to do that soon and put in a Hope Head doctor :-)
Nice detail...
Over tighten it and it breaks loose.
brilliant
You could also bend one of the fins and break a couple of the fins off maybe
My star fangled nut has corroded.
So replacing for new.
my top cap bolt stuck on the starnut, i can't pulled them out, should i drill the bolt ?
If it were me, I would put some penetrating oil in through the bottom of a the steerer and try and impact driver. But you can do what you want.
my bad, i mean it's not stuck cause by a corotion, it's the bolt has losing its grip, i can't tight or loose them.. so they stuck there for nothing.. after i pulled out the bolt i'm pretty sure can try this method on your video to remove the starnut, and replacing the new one, thanks
*sorry for my bad english
Gr8 trick to know about
Good video
One reason to remove it is if you not only have a no use for it all ( currently the case for me ) but if it actually ends up in the way ( soon the case for me ) like when you're planning to use the headtube as a storage space for a Shimano Di2 Battery after you lost your alternative in the seat post due to a Dropper Seat Post.
Not using a Star nut though requires the use of a purpose-built stem like the *PRO Tharsis* or *PRO Koryak*
Not necessarily, you could adjust headset tension using an expanding clamp style system, tighten your stem and then remove the internal clamp.