fitting new forks

jakewwfc

ive just purchased a set of rs recon golds 100mm travel, to replace rs dart2 100mm travel, is it possible to fit these myself ( im ok with basic bike mechanics but no expert ), also would i require any specialist tools, i would like to start doing my own maintainance and repairs or would you advise me to get the local shop to fit them

cooldad

Easy to do. Remove old forks and take off crown race, assuming you are using the same headset.
Measure the new steerer tube, measure it again, measure it again, cut it down, fit starnut, fit crown race, stick it back on.
At some point you've probably taken the wheel and brakes off as well.

cooldad

You can bodge all the tools, bit of plastic pipe to fit crown race, old V brake pad to fit starnut, small hacksaw to cut steerer.

Slow Loris

As Cooldad says, it can all be bodged. When I recently fitted my Recon Golds (great fork btw!) I used a flathead screwdriver to gently tap off the crown race from the old fork, and a 500mm long piece of PVC pipe (1 1/4 or 1 1/2 inch diameter I can't quite remember) from the local hardware store to bang the race onto the new fork.

A junior hacksaw made short work of the steerer tube.

I chickened out of doing the star nut myself, however. You could buy an Ice-toolz or similar star nut fitting tool for under a tenner, but my LBS fitted it for me for a fiver.

cooldad

For the starnut I use an old (long) V brake pad. Screw it in and then tap with a hammer. Give you something to hold onto and by spinning it around you can straighten it up if it starts going in skew.

Fenred

Lots of peeps have different techniques for banging in a sfn.

If you're a little squeemish and want to get it right first time, everytime...I can recommend this...For under a tenner you cant go wrong and you'll have the tool for life.

Oh, you'll need a hammer too

http://superstar.tibolts.co.uk/product_ ... cts_id=374

cooldad

That would be the sensible approach.
And anyone without a hammer should not be working on a bike. How else can you true wheels?

Fenred

cooldad wrote:

That would be the sensible approach.
And anyone without a hammer should not be working on a bike. How else can you true wheels?

jakewwfc

thanks for the advice folks, feel more confident now , think ill get me one of those tools for the sake of a tenner, thanks again much appreciated

suzyb

I'm not the only one who will be trying to fit a new set of Recon gold forks this week then

since I'll need to go to my LBS to ger a star nut as one didn't come with the fork will perhaps ask if they'll fit it as well.

nicklouse

suzyb
be aware not many forks come with star nuts as they are part of the top cap assy. (headset).

jakewwfc

will i need a star nut ? as i am not changing the headset just the fork :?

suzyb

nicklouse wrote:

suzyb
be aware not many forks come with star nuts as they are part of the top cap assy. (headset).

But I will be able to get one itself....surely.

Or am I going to have to remove the one from the old fork :?

cooldad

@jakewwfc - the starnut is in the fork steerer and they don't come out so you will need one. They often come with a new headset.

@suzyb they are about £2 at Halfords. Just get the right size (1 1/8") as they also sell 1".

nicklouse

cooldad wrote:

@suzyb they are about £2 at Halfords. Just get the right size (1 1/8") as they also sell 1".

there are actually more than that number of sizes

1" for steel and 1" for alloy steerers. likewize 2 for the 1 1/8" and the 1.5 standard. ( and watch out for old stock 1 1/4" Most places only stock 2 sizes.

cooldad

Didn't even know there were different ones for steel and alloy.