[Closed] Star nut installers - worth it?

Why not just but a hope head doctor / expanding plug which you can remove and re-install 🙂

Why do you need to use one every couple of months?
Its very easy to do anyway, put SFN under top cap, screw bolt part way into SFN through top cap. Put top cap on top of steerer, tap bolt gently with a hammer, every now and then check to make sure you've not put it down too far.
Obviously completely different for a carbon steerer.

"every few months"

How often do you change your forks???

For me, it's 5 minutes of hassle every couple of years. Not worth spending any money on really. head doctors and similar are pretty good but still a minor faff.

I have headlock on my bikes, but seem to end up doing this for other people.

Definately 100% worth it - nothing worse than getting then getting one all ski-wiff.

Having said that I haven't bought one - I always borrow one from a chap at work when I need to install one...

Definately 100% worth it - nothing worse than getting then getting one all ski-wiff.

Exactly. Only cocked it up once, but as I said, usually not my forks!

Worth it - the Ice toolz one is only 12 quid and far less hassle than having to try and take out a cock-eyed sfn.

I've got one.... it's great !!

Ok, managed for years without. Used to use an M6 caphead and hammer, but it was always a bit tricky getting it in straight. And without catching fingers !

Have done 3 or 4 sets of forks with the proper (Park) tool. It is so much easier. Most of all it is "nicer" to use proper specialised tools for specific jobs.

Have tried Head doctors and the like, all moved and lead to loosening headsets. Long live the sfn !

I managed to install one much as aP says but the next time it all went wrong so bought an Ice toolz tool and now this job is a pleasure!

I don't see the point. When I put mine in my forks, I just knocked it in with a hammer. First time I got it hugely skewift, so I knocked it through and started again. I can see the appeal of having the proper tool, but you do it so rarely that the chances are that you'll have lost it by the time you need it again.

If you're not confident of your hammer wielding abilities, a screwdriver makes a good alternative to the proper tool...

Worth it, especialy for newer/longer forks where the steerer is almost enclosed at the bottom to stiffen it up, so a SFN cant be removed.

Thanks all.

Easily worth the tenner they cost in the time it saves trying to get a skewiff one straight.

Just the right tool for the job. Simple as that.

Alternatively, using some mole grips bend (squeeze together) the bottom layer of the SFN in so the diameter is just larger than the internal dia of the forks. It makes getting it in a lot easier and by the time you get to the next layer of the SFN you should have it nice and straight for the final big hit to get it all in. Still a good idea to use an old bolt and top cap to keep it straight and prevent you knocking it too far in.

Yes get one, they're a pleasure to use.

I use the head doctors myself, CBA'd with SFN's

A 10p piece, a bit of wooden dowel and a hammer and it's done. It will only cost 10p (if you have a bit of wood and a hammer already).

If you afford the right tools then get one I enjoy having the right tools makes jobs faff free.

Recently changed forks on the wifes bike and when they arrived, I used my crown race removal tool to remove the old crown race, steerer tube cutting guide for a nice straight cut when shortening the steerer, crown race fitting tool to fit to new fork and a SFN tool to fit the SFN.

To me it's great to have the right tools for the job and makes it all the more satisfying.

Only worth it if the steerer's cut square to begin with.

The Pedros one is great, fit SFW to it and slide over forks and then leather with big mallet.

http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/TL602C00-Pedros+Star+Nut+Setter.aspx

Does both 1" and 1 1/8th"

stanley - Member

Have tried Head doctors and the like, all moved and lead to loosening headsets. Long live the sfn !

How come? You only need the head doctor/SFN to preload the headset, once the stem bolts are tightened up you can take the head doctor out and the forks/headset will still work perfectly.

Obviously completely different for a carbon steerer.

starfangles + carbon steerer = bad idea

bassspine - Member

Obviously completely different for a carbon steerer.

starfangles + carbon steerer = bad idea

Unless it's a Cervelo where you have to glue in an insert and then add the SFW.

Joxster - Member

Unless it's a Cervelo where you have to glue in an insert and then add the SFW.

I didn't know about that, but the insert is presumably to stop the SFN from breaking the steerer....?

bassspine - Member

Joxster - Member

Unless it's a Cervelo where you have to glue in an insert and then add the SFW.

I didn't know about that, but the insert is presumably to stop the SFN from breaking the steerer....?

Cervelo do it to keep the weight down, the insert and SFN weigh less than an expanding one.