Author Topic: Cutting down 1 1/4" fork steerer tube - HELP! (Read 959 times)

Longun · « **on:** January 22, 2008, 07:53 PM »

1 1/4" forks are all of a new thing to me, but the steerer tube looks way too long (well 3-4"s too long anyway). Is this normal on new forks? If so, what's the recommended way of cutting it down and how long should it be?

Cheers.

BigassBMX · « **Reply #1 on:** January 22, 2008, 08:04 PM »

well thee is not a set length i would say 2 put then in the bike with the head set and what not put 1 spacer in and then the stem and then mark the stearer tube take it all back out and cat u tube down file it off bosh bash bosh job done,

bigassbmx

Longun · « **Reply #2 on:** January 22, 2008, 08:50 PM »

What's best for the cutting? Pipe cutter? Hacksaw?

TwoBobRob · « **Reply #3 on:** January 24, 2008, 05:19 PM »

First of all, you mean 1 1/8th" forks yeah? not some wierd sized things?

Second, and sorry if I'm teaching you to suck eggs, but have you got 3/4" of steerer poking out of the top of your stem? You know its a clamp on stem that grips the steerer tube yeah? Do you have any spacers between headset and stem?

Stick a picture up

If all is well and you do need to chop it down, then a hacksaw with a decent blade will do the trick. Or a grinder with a cutting disc in it

steve · « **Reply #4 on:** January 25, 2008, 12:34 AM »

unscre the cap thing sitting on to=allen bolt

-take off the spacers
=yt wont all fall apart as the stem is clamped to the fork tube

-how it works is = as you assemble, you do the cap up tp tighen the bearings = then lock it all off with the stem

-anyway, after you remove the spacers
mark with a scratch
-undo the stem
-now, you will have a nylon wedge under the stem, reome this
=tap the fork tube and the will come out

-now go and buy 2 i30mm jubilee clipe
-slide the first on
-so you can see your mark, noe look at the cap, it has a recess in it of a fwmm
-fix the jub clip the recess amount, plus 2mm beloe the line, slide the ther clip on, a hack saw blasde width away
-cut around the tube, not through, as it'll go pissed
-then re assemble

check first where the 'star' is in the fork tube
-wether it is welded in or needs tapping down -wedged -wont come back up
-if you go too far you need to knock it through and out

Longun · « **Reply #5 on:** January 25, 2008, 09:37 AM »

OK, thanks for your replies. Let's see. Yes it's a 1 1/4" and yes I know how the whole Aheadset/stem combination works it terms of tightening and locking the headset.

Here's a pic of where I'm at

Am I right in thinking that I need to cut them just below the top of where the stem will come to once in place with all the spacers etc. Just don't want to get it wrong as they're NOS Landing Gears.

TwoBobRob · « **Reply #6 on:** January 25, 2008, 08:34 PM »

Yeah mate, you're exactly right

If it were me, I'd run an extra couple of spacers - that way should you ever change stems and the new one is thicker, you could just loose a spacer and not have to worry about not having enough steerer to clamp to