Is there any trick to getting this thing to work correctly? One came with my Real Design fork and I cannot get it to expand the middle aluminum section to clamp into the fork steerer. I've taken the thing apart and figured out how it works and can get it to expand while holding it. But when inside the fork steerer, I cannot hold the pieces to keep them from spinning uselessly.
Is there any trick to getting this thing to work correctly? One came with my Real Design fork and I cannot get it to expand the middle aluminum section to clamp into the fork steerer. I've taken the thing apart and figured out how it works and can get it to expand while holding it. But when inside the fork steerer, I cannot hold the pieces to keep them from spinning uselessly.
Expand the plug to the point that it's a little tough getting it into the steerer, push it in, and then their will be enough friction to keep it from turning. It only has to be tight enough to not want to pull back while setting bearing preload (not alot).
Is there any trick to getting this thing to work correctly? One came with my Real Design fork and I cannot get it to expand the middle aluminum section to clamp into the fork steerer. I've taken the thing apart and figured out how it works and can get it to expand while holding it. But when inside the fork steerer, I cannot hold the pieces to keep them from spinning uselessly.
Expand the plug to the point that it's a little tough getting it into the steerer, push it in, and then their will be enough friction to keep it from turning.
Problem with this is the very top of the steerer tube is a bit smaller than the section a couple inches below where the expander piece ends up. I've tried expanding it by hand to the point its a very tight fit going into the steerer tube, but then its loose when its pushed in a couple inches. 1/100" or so difference in diameter maybe. But enough to not work.
It only has to be tight enough to not want to pull
Is there any trick to getting this thing to work correctly? One came with my Real Design fork and I cannot get it to expand the middle aluminum section to clamp into the fork steerer. I've taken the thing apart and figured out how it works and can get it to expand while holding it. But when inside the fork steerer, I cannot hold the pieces to keep them from spinning uselessly.
Expand the plug to the point that it's a little tough getting it into the steerer, push it in, and then their will be enough friction to keep it from turning.
Problem with this is the very top of the steerer tube is a bit smaller than the section a couple inches below where the expander piece ends up. I've tried expanding it by hand to the point its a very tight fit going into the steerer tube, but then its loose when its pushed in a couple inches. 1/100" or so difference in diameter maybe. But enough to not work.
Okay, then start as before, push it in to where it's too loose, pull up to where it catches, tighten a bit, push back down, and tighten to the degree needed to preload the headset. -- Typoes are a feature, not a bug. Some gardening required to reply via email. Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.
Problem with this is the very top of the steerer tube is a bit smaller than the section a couple inches below where the expander piece ends up. I've tried expanding it by hand to the point its a very tight fit going into the steerer tube, but then its loose when its pushed in a couple inches. 1/100" or so difference in diameter maybe. But enough to not work.
--/snip--
Could you partially exapnd the, er, expander and then push it in from the bottom with a screwdriver (and then engage the cap threads from the top), or would you face the same problem?
Problem with this is the very top of the steerer tube is a bit smaller than the section a couple inches below where the expander piece ends up. I've tried expanding it by hand to the point its a very tight fit going into the steerer tube, but then its loose when its pushed in a couple inches. 1/100" or so difference in diameter maybe. But enough to not work.
--/snip--
Could you partially exapnd the, er, expander and then push it in from the bottom with a screwdriver (and then engage the cap threads from the top), or would you face the same problem?
SYJ
No since the bottom of the carbon fork is completely sealed. Only opening is from the top.
OK, I had a lot of problems with the FSA expanders and switched to another brand which worked fine.
The problem with this solution is it costs money. The Real Design/FSA expander came "free" with the fork. I'd prefer not spending additonal money for a new part if I don't need to or that will not give me any extra joy.
Is there any trick to getting this thing to work correctly? One came with my Real Design fork and I cannot get it to expand the middle aluminum section to clamp into the fork steerer. I've taken the thing apart and figured out how it works and can get it to expand while holding it. But when inside the fork steerer, I cannot hold the pieces to keep them from spinning uselessly.
Along with the other suggestion I made, I'll add "take the bolt out, chase the threads with a tap and die as needed to make them completely free, and grease the threads on the bolt to make it more likely that the bolt will turn in the body threads instead of spinning the whole thing." -- Typoes are a feature, not a bug. Some gardening required to reply via email. Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.