Carbon steerer fork headset compressor

[[email protected]]

http://www.fullspeedahead.com/fly.aspx?layout=product&taxid=34&pid=248

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.

 

[Robin Hubert]

[email protected] wrote:
> http://www.fullspeedahead.com/fly.aspx?layout=product&taxid=34&pid=248
>
> 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).


Robin Hubert

 

[[email protected]]

Robin Hubert wrote:
> [email protected] wrote:
> > http://www.fullspeedahead.com/fly.aspx?layout=product&taxid=34&pid=248
> >
> > 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
> back while setting bearing preload (not alot).
>
>
> Robin Hubert

 

[Werehatrack]

On 6 Mar 2006 08:00:16 -0800, [email protected] wrote:

>
>Robin Hubert wrote:
>> [email protected] wrote:
>> > http://www.fullspeedahead.com/fly.aspx?layout=product&taxid=34&pid=248
>> >
>> > 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.

 

[SYJ]

[email protected] wrote:
--snip--
> 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

 

[[email protected]]

SYJ wrote:
> [email protected] wrote:
> --snip--
> > 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.

 

[Tom]

OK, I had a lot of problems with the FSA expanders and switched to
another brand which worked fine.

 

[[email protected]]

Tom wrote:
> 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.

 

[Werehatrack]

On 6 Mar 2006 06:56:10 -0800, [email protected] wrote:

>http://www.fullspeedahead.com/fly.aspx?layout=product&taxid=34&pid=248
>
>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.