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Technical & Reference Section => Tech and Restoration => Topic started by: eddie kidd on August 30, 2014, 08:30 PM

Title: Are my Forks to long...
Post by: eddie kidd on August 30, 2014, 08:30 PM
Bought new forks...

But they are a lot longer than the old ones...

Are they for a different Frame ???

Or will i just need lots and lots of spacers ???

(http://i1347.photobucket.com/albums/p713/eddiekidd/DSCN1752_zps47db0ef4.jpg) (http://s1347.photobucket.com/user/eddiekidd/media/DSCN1752_zps47db0ef4.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Are my Forks to long...
Post by: Gary72 on August 30, 2014, 08:44 PM
That does look like a long steerer. Use spacers above and below stem to get desired height.
Title: Re: Are my Forks to long...
Post by: eddie kidd on August 30, 2014, 09:06 PM
Thanks Gary...

I wasn't aware there were 'Long Steerer' forks... ???

Think i'll sell them on...
Title: Re: Are my Forks to long...
Post by: rodriguez on August 30, 2014, 09:35 PM
You could cut the steerer tube and knock the star nut down, there's plenty of how to's on you tube.

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Title: Re: Are my Forks to long...
Post by: eddie kidd on August 30, 2014, 10:11 PM
These forks are internally threaded...

I think i'll cut the steerer tube and weld in a nut for the top stem bolt to screw into...

The star nuts are not a great job...

Bring back the old school stem...

(http://i1347.photobucket.com/albums/p713/eddiekidd/DSCN1723_zps56787442.jpg) (http://s1347.photobucket.com/user/eddiekidd/media/DSCN1723_zps56787442.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Are my Forks to long...
Post by: Dark Diggler on August 30, 2014, 10:47 PM
Nowt wrong with star nuts, just fit it correctly and use it correctly :daumenhoch:
Title: Re: Are my Forks to long...
Post by: eddie kidd on August 30, 2014, 11:03 PM
There was always play in the bars/forks after a good session...

The star just doesn't seem to grip / cut into the inside of the fork... :'(

So i bought one of these...

(http://i1347.photobucket.com/albums/p713/eddiekidd/topcapandbolt_zps3d029fe9.jpg) (http://s1347.photobucket.com/user/eddiekidd/media/topcapandbolt_zps3d029fe9.jpg.html)

It certainley lasted longer, but then it started giving some play... :(

So i wanted to try the internal threaded system... :-\

I have seen forks with a nut welded inside, so i'll do that with these in work Monday...
Title: Re: Are my Forks to long...
Post by: Gary72 on August 30, 2014, 11:19 PM
The fork bolt is only there to set up the pressure on the bearings.
In theory once the stem bolts are tightened you could remove the top fork bolt.
I know that normally once I have built or re-built a bike that I have had some play appear in the headset after riding. Think it is just the bearings settling in or fork race sliding on some more. Just loosen stem bolts, Give the top bolt 1/4 or 1/2 turn then re-tighten stem bolts.
Title: Re: Are my Forks to long...
Post by: oldtired on September 01, 2014, 09:01 PM
if the position of your stem in the pic is where you want to run it , then its wrong,   you will cause the stem bolts to compress the clamp slot on the stem at the back, this will either damage the stem or cause it to work loose,    the fork steerer tube should only be about a mill below the stem top , or sticking  out past the top of stem  (ideal position) ,  as Gary said use spacers below or above to set the hieight of the stem and space out the compression cap,   its meant to compress the bearings enough to seat them ,not hold the stem on,   all the holding it all in place is done by the stem , with the top cap set tight enough to seat the bearings and the stem bolts tightened well you should never get any play front end at all

 run my stem low down as i have big bars ,  the spacers take up the gap above, the top one sits about 1 mm above the top of the steerer  tube ,( 1mm  stainless spacer below the stem makes this height),   the stem actually distorts the tube enough ( probs a few thou') to actually lock the top cap in the threads,  i do tend to over tighten stuff though,  :LolLolLolLol:  having said that i never have to adjust it once set which is what you want no wobbly bits  :daumenhoch:

(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/ff98/jimjdld/bmx/1a468ac7-6a74-4177-9708-de19cc1cd005_zps1dc32a06.jpg)
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