Help required please

[LikeClockwork]

Re:

If 'twere me, I would try tapping the remains of the star fangled nut thing, what's left in the top of your steerer there, through and out the bottom of the tube, or even just knock it down far enough to be able to fit a new one in the top of the steerer.

Be warned though, fitting a new one is a bit of a bar-steward of a job sometimes! I usually do it by putting an old screwdriver through the hole in the middle and tapping the top of that, trying to keep it square-ish. If it goes in skew wiffy, tap the screw driver from side to side, or better still, fit an old bolt into the thread and tap at that instead, gently mind!!

There is a proper tool but I doubt you will pick one up cheaply, a cycle shop would do it for you but may charge a disproportionately large sum of money....

 

[legrandefromage]

Using an old set of steel handlebars, bash the old starnut down into the steerer and insert a new one - or, you can spend a while prying it out before inserting the replacement.

Easy job if you are mechanically sympathetic to materials - use a block of wood rather than a hammer etc.

 

[legrandefromage]

Re: Re:

If 'twere me, I would try tapping the remains of the star fangled nut thing, what's left in the top of your steerer there, through and out the bottom of the tube, or even just knock it down far enough to be able to fit a new one in the top of the steerer.

Be warned though, fitting a new one is a bit of a bar-steward of a job sometimes! I usually do it by putting an old screwdriver through the hole in the middle and tapping the top of that, trying to keep it square-ish. If it goes in skew wiffy, tap the screw driver from side to side, or better still, fit an old bolt into the thread and tap at that instead, gently mind!!

There is a proper tool but I doubt you will pick one up cheaply, a cycle shop would do it for you but may charge a disproportionately large sum of money....

Put the allen bolt into the star nut first, place on steerer, gently tap into steerer until bottom of bolt head aligns with the top of the steerer or a few mm above. You can use the allen bot to straighten up any wonky starnut fitting at the same time.

 

[legrandefromage]

And heres a tool

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/x-to ... lsrc=aw.ds

 

[daswolfgang]

Re:

Well this is all sounding very promising chaps. . I was a bit peeved off with myself last night. I wanted to use it to work today. I think it may pay to take my time and work my way through some of the issues. It's a new toy so just want to get on it and play .

Can anybody suggest a good bike maintenance book that would be helpful to someone in my position that is starting out again 20 years on? or a good website that may cover most of the bases in terms of videos and info? I am totally up for posting on here now I know that this community is large enough not to have to wait days for a reply to a question, but I'de rather have a good reference so as not to keep asking silly questions.

Again, as always your help is much appreciated

 

[old_coyote_pedaller]

Re:

Looking at the evidence, I'd say it's not entirely your fault. There's a bit of corrosion on the threaded insert from the star nut so this could have led to it coming out. I was puzzled by the fact you had managed to exert enough force on the bolt to pull the entire star nut out, it's clear you didn't.

 

[daswolfgang]

Re: Re:

Looking at the evidence, I'd say it's not entirely your fault. There's a bit of corrosion on the threaded insert from the star nut so this could have led to it coming out. I was puzzled by the fact you had managed to exert enough force on the bolt to pull the entire star nut out, it's clear you didn't.

I'm willing to accept it was over tightened knowing how it all works now :? ...but i did think that there is some degree of corrosion that wouldn't have helped the situation. It's a steep learning curve but I think i know what you are referring to when you say the 'star nut' now. It's not just the bit that came free but the entire piece that sits in the tube. I'll get there.

So on that note what would i be looking to order for a Rock Shox Dart 2 as a replacement part? Is it a star nut for an inch and three quarter headset?

Ta for your help.

 

[LikeClockwork]

Re:

Star nut for a 1 1/8" headset, as opposed to the older plain 1".... Should think the quickest/cheapest way to get one would be ebay, I had a box full once and would happily have popped one in the post for you, but I've given them all away now.... :facepalm:

 

[daswolfgang]

Re: Re:

Star nut for a 1 1/8" headset, as opposed to the older plain 1".... Should think the quickest/cheapest way to get one would be ebay, I had a box full once and would happily have popped one in the post for you, but I've given them all away now.... :facepalm:

Appreciate the thought. I may be better just popping to the local Halfords? I need the head race bearings as well as they are worn :-( .

 

[LikeClockwork]

Re:

Halfords should have them, and a new set of bearings, but starting to wonder if you wouldn't be better off buying a cheap new headset, can get them with sealed bearings now for under a tenner on ebay....

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RABID-SEALED- ... p_yMLT5UKA