fork replacement

parko202

I am trying to put a new fork on my mtb, have a bit of a problem as the part which the headset bolt tightens to came free from the steerer, is the fork screwed or can you just put the pieces back in place? any help would be greatly appreciated.







hopefully they embed as I havent used that before.

Morgan

Do you mean the star nut?



Surprising it came loose - generally you have to hammer them out the bottom of the fork. You can just fit a new one.

parko202

yeah, its attached itself to the headset cap(??) that shouldnt be too much of a problem to seperate but the bit coming out of the fork, i can just hammer it in and it will be fine?

it might have come free because it's a really cheap fork, if the two parts of the star nut have separated, I would need to replace that right?

Morgan

Yes, if they're separated you'll need a new star-nut. Make sure to get it in straight and the correct depth too.

http://parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=67

parko202

ok, thanks for the help, ill give it a go later on.

parko202

so the star nut is in using the park tools setter and when I went to put it together today i found that once I tightened the headset cap the steerer was stuck. I put the crown race on the fork and then the bearing then on the top, put the bearing then crown race and the adjustable rubber / plastic washer on. Could it be a problem with different sizing needed on the new fork?

Morgan

A photo would help.

The steerer tube should be about 5mm below the top of your stem, if that's any help.

parko202

ok, in work at the moment so I will put some pictures up tomorrow. I don't think the top crown sat in between the bearing and the steerer very well just by pushing it with my hand, if that could be it, other than that everything is greased up etc.

it will prob be something really simple once i put the picture up, thanks for the help!

parko202

here are a few pictures of how I was putting it together.

http://img188.imageshack.us/i/dsc3590k.jpg/

http://img215.imageshack.us/i/dsc3599.jpg/

http://img137.imageshack.us/i/dsc3600.jpg/

http://img503.imageshack.us/i/dsc3604.jpg/

http://img268.imageshack.us/i/dsc3606.jpg/

parko202

bump...

Morgan

First question - where's the rest of your headset? The top cover is missing.

parko202

thanks for the reply

sorry, i should have put that in a picture, I just put that one up to show the difference between the top of the stem and the steerer. I am using the cap which came with the fork, not the original one that fits flush into the stem, could that cause an issue?

Morgan

Sorry, I didn't mean the top-cap which goes on top of the stem. There should be a cover for those bearings in the upper headset cup - you shouldn't be able to see them.

parko202

there is a wider ring which is just light plastic which has aheadseat written on it would that be it?

Morgan

That's the one.

I expect it should go on top of the upper race, then put on the grey wedge. Probably.

The steerer length looks fine btw.

parko202

yeah, its the exact same as the original fork, might just drop it into the shop because whenever i tighten up the cap it just stops the fork from rotating

thanks for the help

Morgan

Are you sure you're not just over-tightening the top cap? I should just be tight enough to remove play from the bearings.

Oh hang on - your bearings are upside-down...

parko202

ill try less tightening when i get home, just didn't want to leave it loose and have a spectacular incident if something came free, the real craic will be throwing it down three rock,

i thought the bearings were meant to be flat side toward the frame?

Morgan

parko202 wrote: »

i thought the bearings were meant to be flat side toward the frame?

No, flat side should be pointing out, top and bottom. That's why it's not rotating.

parko202

ah ok, right ill do that this evening.

Thanks.