Cutting a threadless fork

(Rik O'Shea) said:

I just received a new threadless fork and it needs to be cut to size. Is this simply a case of
cutting it with a hack saw ? Is there any potential problems I need to be aware of ?

Thanks in advance R

Yes, You dont want to just cut that thing with a hack saw. Take it to your LBS and have them cut it
to the length you want it after you determine the length using the spacers and stem that you have.
There is a few tools used to hold the steerer so you cut it stright. I have see way too many forks
come cut at a wrong angle or too short and they have to 1) Buy a new fork or 2) ride a too short of
steer tube. You also need to have the star nut set in the fork after it is cut.

Later

Spork

rik-shea-<< I just received a new threadless fork and it needs to be cut to size. Is this simply a
case of cutting it with a hack saw ? Is there any potential problems I need to be aware of ?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

<BR><BR>

Cutting it straight and also cutting it 'not too short'. Be conservative about length, leave it a
little long with spacers on top of the stem until you are sure.

Peter Chisholm Vecchio's Bicicletteria 1833 Pearl St. Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535 vecchios.comvecchios.comOpen ↗ "Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] (Qui si parla

Campagnolo) said:

rik-shea-<< I just received a new threadless fork and it needs to be cut to size. Is this simply a
case of cutting it with a hack saw ? Is there any potential problems I need to be aware of ?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

<BR><BR>

Cutting it straight and also cutting it 'not too short'. Be conservative about length, leave it a
little long with spacers on top of the stem until you are sure.

Peter Chisholm Vecchio's Bicicletteria 1833 Pearl St. Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535 vecchios.comvecchios.comOpen ↗ "Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"

The old addage is measure twice, cut once!

your best bet is to have a compitent LBS do it. The mitre jig that my LBS has will insure a
straight cut.

P.S.

Peter, thank Jim for the Fed-Ex order!

--
³Freedom Is a Light for Which Many Have Died in Darkness³

- Tomb of the unknown - American Revolution

Quoted message said:

The old addage is measure twice, cut once!

You only measure it twice?!

"H. M. Leary" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] (Qui si parla

Campagnolo) said:

rik-shea-<< I just received a new threadless fork and it needs to be cut to size. Is this simply
a case of cutting it with a hack saw ? Is there any potential problems I need to be aware of ?

Quoted message said:

><BR><BR>

Cutting it straight and also cutting it 'not too short'. Be conservative about length, leave it
a little long with spacers on top of the stem until you are sure.

Peter Chisholm Vecchio's Bicicletteria 1833 Pearl St. Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535 vecchios.comvecchios.comOpen ↗ "Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"

The old addage is measure twice, cut once!

your best bet is to have a compitent LBS do it. The mitre jig that my LBS has will insure a
straight cut.

P.S.

Peter, thank Jim for the Fed-Ex order!

--
³Freedom Is a Light for Which Many Have Died in Darkness³

- Tomb of the unknown - American Revolution

What about using a plumbing pipe cutter? That would offer a square, very clean cut. The cost
about $10-15.

Wayne

"H. M. Leary" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] (Qui si parla

Campagnolo) said:

rik-shea-<< I just received a new threadless fork and it needs to be cut

to

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

size. Is this simply a case of cutting it with a hack saw ? Is there any potential problems I
need to be aware of ? >><BR><BR>

your best bet is to have a compitent LBS do it. The mitre jig that my LBS

has

Quoted message said:

will insure a straight cut.

Not always a guarantee. I had my frame builder cut my fork steerer and he cut it a *hair* long. As a
result the stem wouldn't fully seat against the tube. I ended up filing the top of the tube down to
get to the proper length...

Lee

RE/

Quoted message said:

Is there any potential problems I need to be aware of ?

Devil's Advocate position: How about leaving it about two inchess too long and taking up the slack
with a tall stack of spacers?

That would give you room to play around with bar height and make the fork more portable to
other bikes.
-----------------------
PeteCresswell

Wayne Pein said:

What about using a plumbing pipe cutter? That would offer a square, very clean cut. The cost
about $10-15.

Yes that's a good way of doing it. But don't get a cheap adjustable one with a wobbly cutting wheel
like I did! Went round in a spiral.

note. Cut doesn't have to be *dead* square because nothing touches the top face.

~PB

"Lee" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

your best bet is to have a compitent LBS do it. The mitre jig that my LBS

has

Quoted message said:

will insure a straight cut.

Not always a guarantee. I had my frame builder cut my fork steerer and he cut it a *hair* long. As
a result the stem wouldn't fully seat against the tube. I ended up filing the top of the tube down
to get to the proper length...

What's the big deal? The cut can be pretty far from square since nothing bears on it. It's not a
"face" like those on the head tube and bottom bracket. Just slip a pipe over the tube to draw a line
and don't completely shut your eyes while you're sawing. If you miss square by 1/8 inch or even
more, no one will ever know but you.

That said, a pipe cutter works great, at least on a carbon or aluminunm steerer tube.

Pete Biggs <[email hidden]> wrote:
: Wayne Pein wrote:
:> What about using a plumbing pipe cutter? That would offer a square, very clean cut. The cost
:> about $10-15.

: Yes that's a good way of doing it. But don't get a cheap adjustable one with a wobbly cutting
: wheel like I did! Went round in a spiral.

: note. Cut doesn't have to be *dead* square because nothing touches the top face.

: ~PB

You can use the cheap pipe cutter. Just do not go around and around with the tool. Instead go back
and forth to elimante any spiraling of the cutting groove.

--------------------------------
Bob Masse' [email hidden]
--------------------------------

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Rik O'Shea
I just received a new threadless fork and it needs to be cut to size. Is this simply a case of
cutting it with a hack saw ? Is there any potential problems I need to be aware of ?

Thanks in advance R

I used a hose pipe clamp to keep the hacksaw cuttig straight. Just take an automotive worm gear style clamp in the size closest to the steerer tube diameter and put it on the tube and tighten it at the mark then use your hacksaw to cut flush against the clamp edge and then you will end up with a pretty clean and square cut. I did have to rotate the clamp, as the part with the worm screw is a little overisze from the clamp band, to finish the opposite side of the tube.

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

I just received a new threadless fork and it needs to be cut to size. Is this simply a case of
cutting it with a hack saw ? Is there any potential problems I need to be aware of ?

If the steerer is steel or aluminum, you can use a pipe cutter to get a nice clean cut. You can't
use a pipe cutter with carbon fiber. Measure twice, cut once. Unless you are 100% sure of your
position on the bike, leave the tube long and use some spacers to take up the space. That way you
can adjust the stem height till you get the right position on the bike.
----------------
Alex