Carbon Fork Steerer. epoxy or compression plug?

on-yer-bike
on-yer-bike Posts: 2,974
edited March 2009 in Workshop
Just got to fit the forks on my bike build. 3T srongly recommend using an alloy sleeve glued into the steerer with epoxy rather than a compression plug. The snag is if you want to lower your stem at a later date it means you can't cut any of the steerer away. Is the epoxy method overkill?
Pegoretti
Colnago
Cervelo
Campagnolo

Comments

  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    A decent fork bung should be OK unless you're a total weight-weenie - some are better than others - the FSA carbon one is pants!
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • stagger
    stagger Posts: 116
    on-yer-bike wrote:
    Just got to fit the forks on my bike build. 3T srongly recommend using an alloy sleeve glued into the steerer with epoxy rather than a compression plug. The snag is if you want to lower your stem at a later date it means you can't cut any of the steerer away. Is the epoxy method overkill?

    I had this issuewith a alpha q fork. It came with a alu insert to glue in, but i didnt use it as like you say, best to have the flexibility to cut if u want, and as the compression plugs are pretty good why bother? works fine with a plug, will probably void a warranty though.
  • on-yer-bike
    on-yer-bike Posts: 2,974
    I've now heard from a bike shop that the steerer can still be shortened by up to 20 mm after the alloy insert has been inserted. You just have to push the star nut down a bit.
    Pegoretti
    Colnago
    Cervelo
    Campagnolo
  • on-yer-bike
    on-yer-bike Posts: 2,974
    Monty Dog wrote:
    A decent fork bung should be OK unless you're a total weight-weenie - some are better than others - the FSA carbon one is pants!

    The plug I have off my last frame is an FSA plug for carbon steerers, is that the one you mean? It's not actually made out of carbon.
    Pegoretti
    Colnago
    Cervelo
    Campagnolo
  • magliaceleste
    magliaceleste Posts: 748
    FSA have made several plugs. There is one with a mushroom shaped cap and an small expanding wedge called the "FSA Compressor Pro". You can purchase this with an alloy or "carbon " top cap. The irony being that the "carbon" version is heavier...Ran the alloy one for a couple of years without probs, it was better than the really poor Easton beartrap assembly which constantly worked loose.

    FSA now make a newer sort of plug which was supplied recently with my Viner. It's got a long expanding wedge, like two of the old ones joined - which is knurled and made of shiny alloy. It takes a regular stem top cap. The other neat thing is that it can't slip down. there is a lip which sits at the top of the steerer tube.

    At the end of the day the top cap and bolt is only there to preload the bearings/remove the slack. It's not there to hold your steering assembly together, the stem does that.
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    The FSA cap in question has the top 'mushroom' section moulded in carbon with an aluminium insert. I was finding that my headset was continually working loose and could work out why and then found that the aluminium insert was not held securely in the top-cap. I tried some Loctite but it still wouldn't hold - could try some epoxy but replaced it with the lighter alloy one and haven't had a problem since.
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..

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