Extending Kona P2 steerer tubes.

[August Bicycles]

We have done plenty of steerer extensions, as most of them are aheadset and not threaded, we use a press fit internal cromoly sleeve at the join, it keeps the two parts of the steerer aligned and reinforced when we TIG weld everything together, we then file everything smooth.

Attached is a picture of one we did a couple of years ago with daily use since with zero issues. after the weld is dressed, its basically invisible.

This is how trophy trucks and the like repair roll cages if they have been damaged in a crash, if its good enough for a 5500lb truck that flies through 5 foot deep whoops in the desert at 120mph, its probably good enough for a bike!

 

[winjohn]

Sounds perfect. I'll email you.
Cheers
John

 

[retrobate]

I have done the same as August Bicycles and never had an issue. I took it a little further & also drilled 4mm holes every 90 degrees in the steer tube either side of the join & welded the sleeve to the steer tube at each of these holes so even if the butt joint failed there is a bit of a fail safe.

Here is a vid from Paul brodie extending steer tubes

 

[bikeworkshop]

I have done the same as August Bicycles and never had an issue. I took it a little further & also drilled 4mm holes every 90 degrees in the steer tube either side of the join & welded the sleeve to the steer tube at each of these holes so even if the butt joint failed there is a bit of a fail safe.

Here is a vid from Paul brodie extending steer tubes

I have also done the same (brazing a sleeve in rather than welding)
but i would advise customers get a suitable fork instead, because there's plenty of choice nowdays.

Of course for a vintage restoration, there will be diffetent priorities, and choice might be limited.

 

[klunkrider]

Done several. I braze them because I’ve don’t have the facility to weld. Don’t usually jig them or anything, just use a sleeve and it seems to keep them straight enough.

 

[bikeworkshop]

Done several. I braze them because I’ve don’t have the facility to weld. Don’t usually jig them or anything, just use a sleeve and it seems to keep them straight enough.

Ahead top and bottom bearings ought to be able to self-centralise, to a point - but a Threaded headset locks against the fork thread specifically, so steerer alignment would want to be very accurate.

 

[klunkrider]

Ahead top and bottom bearings ought to be able to self-centralise, to a point - but a Threaded headset locks against the fork thread specifically, so steerer alignment would want to be very accurate.

I have to say, I’ve never done it for a threaded steerer.

I was asked to once but the slug I use inside the steerer would have gotten in the way of the stem being inserted. On a very long steerer it would be possible to have the slug positioned low enough to still allow the fitting of a quill but the butt in the tube gets in the way of putting the slug too low so it’s not something I’ve ever had reason to try.

 

[winjohn]

Thanks for everyone's input on this.
I am in no real hurry with this and if I could get hold of a P2 TB with the right steerer length that would be ideal.
At the moment I am considering all options.
I think visually if I go with a rigid fork it will be a P2 so other forks are out.
I will keep looking on ebay to see if anything suitable comes up and if nothing shows by spring I will probably buy the nicest TB P2 I can find with at least 420 a2c and get the steerer lengthened.

 

[27motorhead]

Thanks for everyone's input on this.
I am in no real hurry with this and if I could get hold of a P2 TB with the right steerer length that would be ideal.
At the moment I am considering all options.
I think visually if I go with a rigid fork it will be a P2 so other forks are out.
I will keep looking on ebay to see if anything suitable comes up and if nothing shows by spring I will probably buy the nicest TB P2 I can find with at least 420 a2c and get the steerer lengthened.

You should be able to get hold of the right length forks (steerer that is) for less than the price of a steerer extension on what you have. Good luck hunting some down. Have you posted a wanted advert???

 

[winjohn]

You should be able to get hold of the right length forks (steerer that is) for less than the price of a steerer extension on what you have. Good luck hunting some down. Have you posted a wanted advert???

You would think so wouldn't you? But so far I have not been able to find anything close. I did post a wanted ad here but no response so far perhaps I'll give it a bump.