Forum home› Mountain biking forum› MTB buying advice

Star Fangled Nut Thingy...

The Northern MonkeyThe Northern Monkey Posts: 19,174
edited December 2008 in MTB buying advice
Any alternatives?
Are they strong?
Are they recommended?

B
Santa Cruz Butcher

Posts

  • nicklousenicklouse Posts: 50,675 Lives Here
    a head lock IE: a long bolt and to plates Or a starnut.

    they do not need to be strong as all they have to do is preload the bearings. and that is it.

    they can be removed in use (not recommended) and some XC racers do so as when the stem has been tightened they are redundant.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • AnonymousAnonymous Posts: 79,667
    i got a head doctor with my hope head set but didnt bother fitting it and used the existing star nut instead but with the new top cap.
  • The Northern MonkeyThe Northern Monkey Posts: 19,174
    ahh fair enough.
    so the headlocks are just as good as the nuts for strength etc? i guess the benefit is that its easier to remove than a star nut if/when you need to remove the forks?
    Santa Cruz Butcher
  • AnonymousAnonymous Posts: 79,667
    star nuts only cost about 50 p so once fitted, there is no need to remove it. also wont work a second time

    the only difficulty comes when fitting a star nut if you havent got the correct tools, can be done wrong.
  • The Northern MonkeyThe Northern Monkey Posts: 19,174
    sheepsteeth wrote:
    star nuts only cost about 50 p so once fitted, there is no need to remove it.

    the only difficulty comes when fitting a star nut if you havent got the correct tools, can be done wrong.

    thats what i'm worried about...
    Santa Cruz Butcher
  • nicklousenicklouse Posts: 50,675 Lives Here
    bigbenj_08 wrote:
    ahh fair enough.
    so the headlocks are just as good as the nuts for strength etc? i guess the benefit is that its easier to remove than a star nut if/when you need to remove the forks?

    strength is not relevant.

    both are just as easy (maybe star nut easier) when you need to remove the forks.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • The Northern MonkeyThe Northern Monkey Posts: 19,174
    kewl. well i might try a headlock instead....hate the star nut, fecked a few up in my time.
    Santa Cruz Butcher
  • nicklousenicklouse Posts: 50,675 Lives Here
    what forks as not all forks can use a head lock.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • The Northern MonkeyThe Northern Monkey Posts: 19,174
    it'll be rockshox domain 318's. 160mm
    Santa Cruz Butcher
  • AnonymousAnonymous Posts: 79,667
    only asking cause i dont know, but what makes a fork unable to use a hedlock,
  • nicklousenicklouse Posts: 50,675 Lives Here
    bigbenj_08
    not sure measure the diameter of the hole in the bottom of the steerer.
    sheepsteeth
    see above. Many forks now have a very tapered steerer and you end up with a hole that is all of 5 or 6mm diameter across in the fork crown end and that aint a size that an head lock will work with.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • AnonymousAnonymous Posts: 79,667
    seen.
  • The Northern MonkeyThe Northern Monkey Posts: 19,174
    ahh fair enough, cheers for the heads up.

    what about the head doctor then? that is again different isnt it?
    Santa Cruz Butcher
  • nicklousenicklouse Posts: 50,675 Lives Here
    bigbenj_08 wrote:

    what about the head doctor then? that is again different isnt it?
    I have 2 that are still unused.

    they are not worth buying on there own. and if they come with a headset use a star nut with the hope top cap and bolt.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • AnonymousAnonymous Posts: 79,667
    is an expanding collet type of affair and then you use it, once fitted, the same way as a star nut.
  • dave_hilldave_hill Posts: 3,877
    I have a Head Doctor on my Giant. I fitted it when I fitted my Pikes about 2 years ago and I haven't touched it since (except when I fitted a new headset).

    For some reason, some people seem to have awful trouble with Head Doctors, but in my experience it's been a true "fit and forget" component.
    Give a home to a retired Greyhound. Tia Greyhound Rescue
    Help for Heroes
    JayPic
  • supersonicsupersonic Posts: 82,708 Lives Here
    Like 99.9% of starnuts I have seen fitted. ;-)
    GT ZASKAR CARBON TEAM

    VOODOO CANZO

    Come and see me at https://www.facebook.com/biketyke/
  • dave_hilldave_hill Posts: 3,877
    I wondered how long it would take :D:D !!!
    Give a home to a retired Greyhound. Tia Greyhound Rescue
    Help for Heroes
    JayPic
  • RockhopperRockhopper Posts: 503
    I think the real problem is that most people don't appear to understand how modern threadless headsets work.
Sign In or Register to comment.