Time frame for LBS to fit star spangled nut & cut steere

drewfromrisca
drewfromrisca Posts: 1,165
edited June 2010 in Workshop
How long do you reckon this would take if I took this to a local LBS to do? I'm really unsure of doing this myself and would rather pay to get it done right than botch it myself and fudge it up? (bit of a how long is piece of string question I know)
There is never redemption, any fool can regret yesterday...

Be Pure! Be Vigilant! Behave!

Comments

  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,673
    a few minutes if they have nothing else to do and you take it with all the bits and you know exactly where you want it cutting and they have nothing else to do.

    take cookies.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • Wooliferkins
    Wooliferkins Posts: 2,060
    It depends how busy they are. It's not hard to do yourself just be sure you are happy with the bar height. Measure twice, cut once. As for the star fangled nut throw it away and use something like the BBB Powerhead. Never have to faff hammering stuff into a steerer again
    Neil
    Help I'm Being Oppressed
  • drewfromrisca
    drewfromrisca Posts: 1,165
    I don't have the tools to cut it and I'm reeeeeaaallly nervous bout cocking up. I just called one place and they said the week after next, keep on phoning round then I guess. anyone know of good LBS' in Leighton Buzzard area?
    Cheers for tip wool!
    There is never redemption, any fool can regret yesterday...

    Be Pure! Be Vigilant! Behave!
  • proto
    proto Posts: 1,483
    Personally, I wouldn't fit a star mangled nut to a set of Time forks, there are much better solutions. :wink:
  • drewfromrisca
    drewfromrisca Posts: 1,165
    I've actually gone into the packaging and it's not even a star nut!!! It's in fact similar to a powerhead. What a muppet I am!!!
    There is never redemption, any fool can regret yesterday...

    Be Pure! Be Vigilant! Behave!
  • sungod
    sungod Posts: 17,411
    if it's an alloy steerer you just need a junior hacksaw

    measure, measure, measure

    pause, have a think and a choc biccie

    measure, measure, measure

    cut

    you can practice by only cutting off, say, 25% of the final amount, then if that goes well you can do it properly, if you end up with a cut at 30 degrees or a snapped blade you can call it a day and let the lbs do it

    if it's carbon, go straight to lbs, do not buy hacksaw, do not buy sfn
    my bike - faster than god's and twice as shiny
  • drewfromrisca
    drewfromrisca Posts: 1,165
    It's carbon...
    There is never redemption, any fool can regret yesterday...

    Be Pure! Be Vigilant! Behave!
  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,673
    again, mechanics work on cookies. or cake.

    just dont take the piss.

    or do you have any old stems that you could use as a cutting guide? a nice new 32 tooth per inch blade in the hack saw.

    but the main thing is being 100% sure of where you want the cut.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • drewfromrisca
    drewfromrisca Posts: 1,165
    I think I'll be leaving it to the professionals. I'm wimping out on this one!
    There is never redemption, any fool can regret yesterday...

    Be Pure! Be Vigilant! Behave!
  • hopper1
    hopper1 Posts: 4,389
    It's no big deal, really.
    I rode my bikes for a while with spacers below stems, gradually moving the spacers above the stems, until I was happy with my postition.
    I have one carbon steerer and one alloy.
    I removed all the spacers and, on the carbon steerer, I removed the 'powerhead' type fitting. Marked the steerers about 3mm above the stems. Removed the stems, wrapped a rag around the top of the headset & made my cuts...
    Put the two different types of ehadset tensioners back in the steerers, added a small (5mm) spacer, and srewed in the top cap.
    Job done. :wink:
    Start with a budget, finish with a mortgage!
  • ultimobici
    ultimobici Posts: 44
    If you do cut your own carbon steerer, make sure that you tape the steerer around the cutting area and cut from one side to the middle then cut from the opposite side back toward the first cut. That way the fibres are less prone to de-laminating.