carbon steerer

[bonj2]

is there anything special you need to do differently when fitting forks with a carbon steerer?
It's got an 'expanding wedge bung' already in for the top cap bolt to screw into so that's ok, but I'm thinking - it's ok to just tighten the stem bolts on it as you would normally or do you have to have something else in there above the wedge bung thing?

 

[TheDoctor]

As far as I know you just don't want to go mad doing the stem bolts up. My expanding bung thing ended up just where the stem clamps on.

Someone else will be along to give their two penn'orth soon.

 

[Smokin Joe]

You really need a torque wrench if you are not experienced enough to have developed the feel for tightening clamps round carbon tubes. Overtighten and you will crush the steerer with disasterous consequences.

 

[TheDoctor]

Ulp!
Well, I didn't really welly it up.
*worries*
*goes to check*

 

[bonj2]

cheers Joe
what should the torque be, for when I do get a torque wrench?

 

[mickle]

You really need a torque wrench if you are not experienced enough to have developed the feel for tightening clamps round carbon tubes. Overtighten and you will crush the steerer with disasterous consequences.

Piffle. How exactly does one 'develop the feel'? Precisely how many carbon steerers have you crushed joe?

 

[bonj2]

don't you reckon you do need a torque wrench then mickle?

 

[bonj2]

ah, shoot! i've just discovered the wedge bung thing is too far down for the top cap bolt to reach. Is it likely to be possible to pull it up a bit?

 

[Dave5N]

You need a long screwdriver and a hammer. Alternatively cut it at the point where the bung is stuck. Make sure you use the right adhesive to reassemble - ideally an epoxy resin (such as araldite) as the chemical composition is the same as the carbon matrix.

 

[mickle]

Use a longer bolt....

 

[mickle]

You need a long screwdriver and a hammer. Alternatively cut it at the point where the bung is stuck. Make sure you use the right adhesive to reassemble - ideally an epoxy resin (such as araldite) as the chemical composition is the same as the carbon matrix.

WTF??

 

[bonj2]

You need a long screwdriver and a hammer. Alternatively cut it at the point where the bung is stuck. Make sure you use the right adhesive to reassemble - ideally an epoxy resin (such as araldite) as the chemical composition is the same as the carbon matrix.

eh? I dont' want the steerer any shorter than it is so I'm not going to cut it. I don't understand the rest. What would I use a hammer and screwdriver for, and why would I need to reassemble it with glue?

 

[bonj2]

Use a longer bolt....

hmmm.. that was my first thought, I could do - but do I not want the bung inside at the point where the stem is going to be tightening on it?

i'm tempted to just get this fella

 

[mickle]

hmmm.. that was my first thought, I could do - but do I not want the bung inside at the point where the stem is going to be tightening on it?

i'm tempted to just get this fella

Don't worry about where the expander is in relation to the stem. It'll cope.

 

[bonj2]

can you get longer top cap bolts?