Headlock Vs Star Nut
banana pilot
Posts: 178
Was out riding some singletrack yesterday with some pals when I noticed some slight play in either the headset or forks on my XTC SX. unsure which and didn't spend too much time searching for the play.
One of my friends, who's a mechanic, said that I should get a headlock rather than the stock star nut on the bike at the moment, he said he has used one on his bikes for years and it is as solid as a badgers nadgers.
Any opinions either way? I'm fancying a sexy gold number to go with the khaki green frame :-) but if there's no gain to the upgrade then it's obviously a waste of money.
Also a benefit I can see is that crap will get blocked from flying up into the steerer which will stop the little bits of rust which have started appearing?!
Paulie
My Weapon
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One of my friends, who's a mechanic, said that I should get a headlock rather than the stock star nut on the bike at the moment, he said he has used one on his bikes for years and it is as solid as a badgers nadgers.
Any opinions either way? I'm fancying a sexy gold number to go with the khaki green frame :-) but if there's no gain to the upgrade then it's obviously a waste of money.
Also a benefit I can see is that crap will get blocked from flying up into the steerer which will stop the little bits of rust which have started appearing?!
Paulie
My Weapon
This Is Why
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Comments
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It does seal the steerer better, but you still need to check for trapped stuff. These devices simply preload the bearings. The stem is what keeps things in place, one is no more secure than another. Starnuts are the best bet imho, at least for steel and alu steerers.
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you will find a headlock is stronger due to the nature and location is provides support. the headlock pulls up from the underside of the crown where as a star nut pulls from the top steerer. headlocks are more secure by their nature.
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Secure in what way? Its a bearing adjuster! May keep your stem in place if you were silly enough to not tighten it properly, but it is the stem that keeps things in place and bearings loaded. You can remove the preload devices once the stem has been torqued.
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I run a headlock on my Hardtail & a SFN on the Susser, the headlock is very secure & also helps to stop crud getting in the steerer tube, if headlocks were lighter I'd have one on the Susser (but it's on a diet!).
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most headlocks have a courser thread than a star nut meaning getting the headset correctly preloaded is harder.
once the brearings have been preloaded the topcap of a star nut can be removed an the bike used.
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Thanks for your comments guys. Conflicting opinions clearly so I'll have to evaluate whether a headlock would be worth the money.
Back out to Puddletown on Thursday after work, need to get my regular fix now my singletrack/trail/jump/north shore etc. skills and confidence are blossoming!!
Paulie
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