HELP! - frontend issue star nut thingy

dru
dru Posts: 1,341
edited June 2010 in Workshop
Hi people,

I've got a major issue with my road bike.

What is worrying I've got til saturday to fix it.

Basically I went to flip the stem and saw this.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y253/J ... CN0151.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y253/J ... CN0150.jpg

The star nut thing in the middle is lop sided to the front, I've tried to put it back together with stem and spacers but it won't go back together flush ie the top cap.

I'ts all loose and now can not get it working.

I know very little about bike mechanics please can someone help. Anything I can do or is it a LBS job. If it is - is it a simple repair or is it a 'new fork' job.

Cheers and thanks,

Dru.

Comments

  • alfablue
    alfablue Posts: 8,497
    edited June 2010
    The star nut appears to have pulled out, it should be maybe 1.5cm below the top of the steerer. You could try and reinsert it (can be tricky to get in straight without the special tool), but it may be deformed and pull out again (in the first pic it looks mangled).

    The LBS can fit a new one and set it up in about 15 minutes. The star nuts themselves cost £3-£5 ish. I would expect the LBS to charge maybe £20-£25 to do this including the part price.

    Evans, for example, charge £25 for headset fitting or suspension fork fitting - these jobs are slightly more involved.
  • dennisn
    dennisn Posts: 10,601
    Remove the fork, take it to the LBS and have them install a new star nut. They are not expensive. Reinstall fork with the stew reversed. Note that if you're not mechanically inclined maybe the whole thing should go to the shop.
  • dru
    dru Posts: 1,341
    ah ok,

    So take the fork out and just take that down to the LBS, that'll be alot easier than a half built bike.

    Cheers both. Fingers crossed they have got the time to do it :)

    Regards,

    Dru.
  • alfablue
    alfablue Posts: 8,497
    That's fine if you know how to set the headset tension when you reassemble it - it is easy but some people (myself included, once) make the beginners error of tightening the stem bolts first. If you aren't sure take the whole bike to the LBS, but tbh it is easy and you are better learning to DIY. This video shows you how http://bicycletutor.com/adjust-threadless-headset/