Sawing a steerer tube - advice needed

DavidBelcher

Hi all,

The steering column on my road bike is a little bit on the high side, with a good few spacing washers between the top headset cup and the locknut. As it's a threaded one, would shortening the steerer best be left in the hands of a bike shop to avoid problems with threading on re-assembly, or would it be OK to tackle at home with an Eclipse junior (or similar hacksaw) and a file? Thanks in advance for feedback.

David

robbarker

This might help..

http://www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=127

Who could forget their Italian tour where tears of frustration welled up in Lionel's face at being denied the use of his mouth to finish off "Two Gentlemen of Verona".

notsoracy rich

I've done this once or twice in the past. An easy DIY job, as long as you remember to measure twice, check twice, check again, then cut.

Take the forks out ,screw on the top race all the way(the top nut often has a stop), wrap a layer of masking tape around area to cut and mark,trying to keep it square.Then check again and cut using a full size hacksaw is easier,keeping the cut square.Remove tape,carefully file inside and outside the tube to get rid of and burrs-particularly where the thread starts, then unscrew the top race which will help clean up any minor deformities.

Re-instal forks,,job done.

Hope this helps, Rich.

notsoracy rich

Forgot to say, you can only do this if steering column is threaded below the area you want to cut. If you need new threads cut its an LBS. job.
Rich

aracer

notsoracy rich wrote:

Forgot to say, you can only do this if steering column is threaded below the area you want to cut. If you need new threads cut its an LBS. job.
Rich

Though since he has spacers between the top cup and the locknut, and the top cup isn't going to be threaded down any more than it is already, he must have enough thread now.

alfablue

I think the best tool for a DIY job is a plumbers pipe cutter, it makes a clean and parallel cut really easily. I got a dedicated bike one (Ice Toolz steerer cutter), but it is not really different from a plumbers one which you could probably get for a tenner.




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DavidBelcher

notsoracy rich wrote:

Forgot to say, you can only do this if steering column is threaded below the area you want to cut. If you need new threads cut its an LBS. job.
Rich

Thanks for tips, Rich. Column has bags of thread to spare so no worries there. However, bike shop is only quoting a fiver for the job, so tempted to not be a cheapskate and leave it in their hands.

David

maddog 2

I suspect a pipe cutter on a threaded steerer is asking for trouble - it'll just want to follow the threads.. :shock:

hacksaw then file smooth. Not a big job. Just use some tape or an old locknut as a guide.