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Star nut for forks install

bwstokiebwstokie Posts: 115
edited June 2012 in MTB workshop & tech
Hi all

Just a quick question.....do you usually get a star nut with brand new forks or is it a separate buy needed?

Cheers

Posts

  • nicklousenicklouse Posts: 50,675 Lives Here
    depends on the forks.

    normally with the headset.

    i guess you will need to get one.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • bwstokiebwstokie Posts: 115
    I'll get one to be safe, only a couple of quid.

    Cheers
  • The Northern MonkeyThe Northern Monkey Posts: 19,174
    always seem to come with Rockshox,
    Santa Cruz Butcher
  • DodgeTDodgeT Posts: 2,255
    The Northern Monkey wrote:
    always seem to come with Rockshox,

    My revs from merlin didn't, then again they were in a plain box, no shock pump too (which I think some come with?).
  • bwstokiebwstokie Posts: 115
    Quick piece of advice if I can - I've had a read of Park Tools.

    I haven't got a specific nut install tool so am probably going to have to improvise - has anyone got any tips as I don't want to balls it up?

    Should I forget the star nut and go for one of the expansion bolt and sleeve jobbies?

    Thanks in advance

    Lee
  • nicklousenicklouse Posts: 50,675 Lives Here
    bolt, thread two nuts on. lock them together screw on star nut. fit good leather glove to left hand. if left handed fit it to your other hand). Offer the starnut bolt to the fork and hit it with hammer.

    see the glove was useful as that would have hurt.

    unscrew bolt. fit fork fit reast of headset and then the steerer and any washers and finally the top cap.

    now go find that glove.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • bwstokiebwstokie Posts: 115
    Sorry must be thick....what's "bolt thread two nuts on. lock them together screw on star nut." mean in mong's terms, can't picture what you mean in my head????
  • nicklousenicklouse Posts: 50,675 Lives Here
    fork102.jpg
    tns11.jpg
    02252010minismoker002.jpg
    the bolt and nut are a makeshift insertion tool.
    and the correct way

    http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-hel ... stallation
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • edhornbyedhornby Posts: 1,780
    do not try to bodge a star nut in, if it doesn't go in straight you are in a mess

    get a hope expanding bung
    "I get paid to make other people suffer on my wheel, how good is that"
    --Jens Voight
  • nicklousenicklouse Posts: 50,675 Lives Here
    edhornby wrote:
    do not try to bodge a star nut in, if it doesn't go in straight you are in a mess

    get a hope expanding bung
    worse than an off center star nut.

    and if it is at an angle it is easy to straighten.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • steelie600steelie600 Posts: 519
    Agreed + potato

    Thats how I did mine, no bother and just give the bolt a wiggle to line it up square! PFFT these none mechanically minded types eh??
    Idiot ^^^^^^^^^

    Ralph
  • cooldadcooldad Posts: 32,599
    I use an old V brake block, screw it into the starnut and tap it in. You can hold the tip of the block, so you don't need a massive glove (providing you have a bit of co-ordination), and if it starts going skew you can spin it and tap from the opposite side.
    I don't do smileys.

    There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda

    London Calling on Facebook

    Parktools
  • bwstokiebwstokie Posts: 115
    Brilliant thanks!

    Last question I promise ;-)

    I thought by undoing the top cap and removing the stem the forks would jet drop out but they don't?

    They are rockshox pike 409's on a 2010 Marin wolf ridge with the standard FDA headset that it came with.

    Cheers for the help!

    Lee
  • cooldadcooldad Posts: 32,599
    There is a compression ring. Push the front end down sharply and it may pop up enough to make it easier. Or just give the top of the steerer tube a gentle whack with a mallet.
    I don't do smileys.

    There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda

    London Calling on Facebook

    Parktools
  • PlyphonPlyphon Posts: 433
    bwstokie wrote:
    Brilliant thanks!



    I thought by undoing the top cap and removing the stem the forks would jet drop out but they don't?


    Lee


    There is a wedge in the top portion of the headset which helps to sit everything square when compression is added and take up any room left over from dodgy manufacturing processes.

    This thing sticks, but doesn't require much of a sharp tap of the hammer on the fork steerer (whilst holding the frame) for it to budge.

    Just be careful bits of headset don't go flying onto a dusty/gritty floor. :lol:
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