Ubuntu_user Posted May 25, 2008 Report Share Posted May 25, 2008 I just got my GU stock fork in the mail last week, but there's a problem! The tube that goes up through the head tube is way way way too long! What am I going to do? Is this normal, cuz I've never built a bike before... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Revolver Posted May 25, 2008 Report Share Posted May 25, 2008 Cut it down! They're made long so that no-one ever gets one too short. Mark a line (roughly 7mm below where the top cap would sit) and cut it there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bionic Balls Posted May 25, 2008 Report Share Posted May 25, 2008 if in doubt...cut it too long...! can always cut it again if you need to then... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simpson Posted May 25, 2008 Report Share Posted May 25, 2008 Put on your stem stackers and stem as many as you want to run, then use a junior hack saw to leave a mark where it sits. Then cut about 4mm below this line, the longer the steerer the better means you get more support. Then either use a saw or a ginder to cut your steerer. Before you do that sick a bolt in the star nut and hammer it down far enough first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ubuntu_user Posted May 25, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 25, 2008 Hey guys Thanks so much! where would you say that the star nut needs to be below the cut mark? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psycholist Posted May 25, 2008 Report Share Posted May 25, 2008 The star nut should be at least a few mm below the top of the steerer. If you put it much further down the bolt from the top cap won't be able to reach it. If it's too high it can pull out as you tighten the top cap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigjames Posted May 26, 2008 Report Share Posted May 26, 2008 why not just stick the star nut in after youve cut the steerer, steerer 5mm shorter below the top of your stem and star nut 5-10mm below the top of your steerer once cut to length. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
16 years later Posted May 26, 2008 Report Share Posted May 26, 2008 Take it to you LBS. Get it done well or not at all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ubuntu_user Posted May 26, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 26, 2008 Take it to you LBS. Get it done well or not at all wouldn't my LBS cost me an arm and a leg? I can sure cut the thing myself! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigjames Posted May 26, 2008 Report Share Posted May 26, 2008 ive youve got a bench vice or a workmate and a decent hacksaw, youve gotta be pretty inept to mess it up. measure it twice, mark it up and cut away, file off any burrs and you'll be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkeyseemonkeydo Posted May 26, 2008 Report Share Posted May 26, 2008 I never use any form of LBS for anything. Ever. With about £20 of bike specific tools you can do absolutely anything, and you won't be wallet raped everytime something goes wrong. But yeah, follow the instructions in here (except 15 years later (sorry 15YL)) and you're laughing . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psycholist Posted May 26, 2008 Report Share Posted May 26, 2008 I'm not sure how you're getting away with so few tools - I wouldn't let a set of allen keys worth under £10 near my bike as cheap tools tend to ruin bolt heads, so that's over half your budget gone already. If you go to a local shop remember that no qualification is needed to set yourself up as a bike mechanic, so only use a shop you know to be competent - none of my bikes has been to a bike shop (Apart for to be parked outside) for well over a decade... If you want just the basics, a decent set of allen keys, a crank puller, cassette/freewheel and BB removers, chain tool, spoke key, bleed kit (If you're on hydraulics) and proper cable snips will already add up to well past the £50 mark, and that's before you worry about fitting/removing headsets, hub bearing replacement etc. (Add tools for suspension servicing (Great fun on long winter evenings ) if you've got an XC bike and it gets really scary)... I reckon it's still cheaper to buy the tools as you need them and educate yourself as to how to use them than to go to a bike shop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark W Posted May 27, 2008 Report Share Posted May 27, 2008 I wouldn't let a set of allen keys worth under £10 near my bike £7. I'm using one that's a relic from the old shop I used to work at (Which I left about 4 years ago). I think it's around 7-8 years old, been used constantly throughout that time as it was the main set of allen keys at our shop. It's indef**kingstructable! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psycholist Posted May 27, 2008 Report Share Posted May 27, 2008 You might need an 8mm and 10mm for the set to be really useful on bikes though ... It's mostly scary how many bike specific tools there are out there... Some day... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark W Posted May 27, 2008 Report Share Posted May 27, 2008 Yeah, my brother got the toolset that goes from 3mm to 10mm. Seems pretty good. The only sizes of tools I need for my bike at the moment is a 6mm allen key, and a 17mm spanner. It's too good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Rainbird Posted May 27, 2008 Report Share Posted May 27, 2008 Some day... At £4250, it could be a way off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simpson Posted May 27, 2008 Report Share Posted May 27, 2008 as cheap tools tend to ruin bolt heads Genrally find that people who don't know what there doing ruin bolt heads, not specifically the tools themselves, Ive always gone for cheap=Better principle, and all my bolts are fineeee Set of Allen Keys 1-10mm about 5quid 6 quid chain tool Screwdriver hammed and wood for headsets Always borrow BB tool, which undoes my Tensile as well - but if i did want one 6quid? Hammer as a crank puller genrally - unless im feeling posh. and borrow one Bath bleed 3quid spoke tool.... Not hard to get a fairly decent bike kit for under 20quid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash-Kennard Posted May 27, 2008 Report Share Posted May 27, 2008 I never use any form of LBS for anything. Ever. With about £20 of bike specific tools you can do absolutely anything, and you won't be wallet raped everytime something goes wrong. But yeah, follow the instructions in here (except 15 years later (sorry 15YL)) and you're laughing . i couldnt face my bb shell, had to get the bikeshop to do it, i was soo f**king worried lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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