U.G.L.I Ti nut problem

[Zanoli]

Hello,

Just got my hands on a Raleigh U.G.L.I. Ti fork fit on a unmatching frame, with the idea of mounting it on an another frame (unfortunately not a Dyna Tech, but TI still ).
The stem compression device is not a standard starnut but a three pieces thing : a sort of shim or ring fit tight inside the steerer tube and two thick "washers" (one threaded) sit on each side of the ring / shim. The stem cap bolt is supposed to be screwed through all three pieces to tighten it all. See pics.
I'm not familiar with this system as you can tell so i have a couple questions :

- both "washers" are loose and the steerer's bottom is closed, making it difficult to tighten the cap bolt through all three pieces and it has to be done with the bike upside down so the bottom washer remains in place. Or am i missing something ? Any tips ?

- shall i try to get rid of that thing (and how and replace it with a standard starnut ?

Thanks for your help !

 

[ishaw]

Re:

I had a fork recently which had a dodgy hope head doctor fitted. The only way I could remove it was to push it out the bottom which isn't an option for you.

The only options I can think.of to remove it are to get a j-bend spoke and try and get it through the middle and pull it out, or loos4lt fit a long bolt so as not to start the compression that holds it in, and pull it out that way.

 

[TOMAS]

Get rid of it all and fit a 1.1/8 star nut bud, you should be able to pry out the ring with the split with a spoke or pick as ishaw says, working up each opposing side a bit at a time, then the wedge washer inside should fall out. Correct me if wrong but is the steerer on those Ti is it just the legs - i've a couple of sets of the Cromo ones on my bikes.

 

[Zanoli]

Thanks guys !
(Just out of curiosity : would you ID what type of compression nut it is or how it was supposed to work before falling apart ?)
Will try the spoke technique but it won't be easy as the steerer is very lightly bent... we'll see.
@TOMAS : It's definitely not steel (magnet test done) and may simply be Ti according to this retail display model's indications viewtopic.php?f=1&t=60817&start=10.
On another note, i'm not hugely confident riding any 20+ years bonded / glued stuff... any feedback regarding how these UGLI forks tend to age ?
Cheers

 

[FluffyChicken]

Re:

There are a few tyoe of compression, the ones I use you just slide in like a top cap and tighten, nothing stays in the forks unless you undo the bolt to much.

just find something to grab the lower bit enough and yank out.

Search
top cap compression
or
hope head doctor
for various style.

 

[TOMAS]

Thanks guys !
(Just out of curiosity : would you ID what type of compression nut it is or how it was supposed to work before falling apart ?)
Will try the spoke technique but it won't be easy as the steerer is very lightly bent... we'll see.
@TOMAS : It's definitely not steel (magnet test done) and may simply be Ti according to this retail display model's indications viewtopic.php?f=1&t=60817&start=10.
On another note, i'm not hugely confident riding any 20+ years bonded / glued stuff... any feedback regarding how these UGLI forks tend to age ?
Cheers

TBH I have a few bonded Ti Dynas and thankfully none of them have let go yet under my 14 stones, however I only essentially ride them as 'commuter style' bikes... I wouldn't really truly 'mountain bike' on any of my retro collection, I have modern MTBs for that, retros are beautiful to look at and also cruise on sunny days/canal toepaths, gravel tracks, tarmac, fire roads and the odd bridalway but nothing more than that for me on them. I ride my UGLI's but again don't give them much stick! I used to ride DIY street trials aka chainspotting etc style back in the day as a 15 year old, on a Ti set of UGLIs but they sadly gave way at the crown - it opened up/elongated at where the streerer goes in... if it wasn't for the M5 steel mudguard bolt they would have completely parted ways! I had however gave them shed loads of abuse!

 

[Zanoli]

Hi guys,

Thanks a mil for the spoke tip it worked wonder !

I'm now left with another question : i noticed a couple thin stripes on both legs, spreading vertically but not on the entire leg (ie from crown to drop out) and fading at both ends.
Some look look like coating wear and at least one made me suspect a crack.

I sanded a little spot where the line was the widest and a little spot at the end where it faded.
At the end there was not damage underneath coating. But in the middle, i found what looks like a seam : it's straight and one side is very slightly higher than the other. I've included pics, please tell me what you think of this !

Thanks again

 

[mdvineng]

It looks like a seam welded tube construction.

 

[Zanoli]

It looks like a seam welded tube construction.

Thanks. I'm surprised the seam would be so visible but i'm not a tube construction specialist. On the other hand a vertical crack would be quite improbable wouldn't it ?

 

[ishaw]

Re:

Some ti tubes are seamed and welded. I have a frame that has cracked along a seam in the chain stay sadly.