Removing a star nut

Not the usual problem; I have a star fangled nut at the top of the steerer to hold the stem on BUT I also have a SFN at the bottom of the steerer to hold the mudguard on. I can see (now it’s a bit too late) that I might have to remove one of these SFNs as I’d like to put the electronics for a dynamo light inside the steerer.

So the question is how to remove a SFN if it’s not possible to knock it all the way through?

I’ve got one out before by carefully twatting the fangles to death with a screwdriver, and bending them with angle nose pliers, if that makes sense. Careful drill use may also work (maybe try and drill the middle out).

It’s a tit of a job however you go at it.

I can see (now it’s a bit too late) that I might have to remove one of these SFNs

don’t then!!

Or if you want to do it just smash ’em out and get some new ones not the most expensive things in the world.

From having this exact problem, I tried the following. You could try it, at your own risk…

Put a stem on the steerer, one that wraps around as much of the steerer as possible, and covers the area of the steerer with the SFN.
Get a strong bolt and a decent, strong top cap.
Put top cap on with bolt threaded into SFN
Tighten up the bolt until it’s tight
Keep cranking the bolt up until the SFN gives up and breaks into pieces.

(But guess which step I didn’t do…)
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.
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Yes, I didn’t put a stem around the steerer and ended up splitting said steerer vertically. Oops. 🙄

seosamh77

This is a star fangled nut in a steerer tube. It’s the bit that allows the top bolt to pre-load the headset bearings

(Edit – I saw your question before you hit the edit button ;-))

Militant – that would be bad as my steerer isn’t replaceable!

can you not just knock it down till it is beside the lower one ?

Dremel and cut the thing out?

Drill out the centre (threaded) section, this will allow the seperate pieces to be twisted vertically and pulled out.

Depending on how near it is to the top, some careful vandalism with a narrow screwdriver and a hammer can work. You have to break each of the legs without driving the whole thing deeper in.

Then use a Head Doctor in the future!

I’m interested – is it a ‘Plug’ system you’re putting in, or a home made job? I have just finished a dynamo-usb charging thingy. (/smug) Won’t fit in a steerer though.

I just used a long 1/2″ drive extension bar and smacked the living day lights out of one when I wanted to remove it 😀

some careful vandalism with a narrow screwdriver and a hammer can work

AKA

carefully twatting the fangles to death

😉

Mowgli – it’s early days for me at the moment, I have a hub dynamo and am considering possibilities for a light. This thread had got me thinking:-
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?179805-Dynamo-LED-Driver-Circuit-PCB-available

That looks advanced! But fun though. I would start simple if you’re new to electronics. You can buy an LED driver, a bridge rectifier and capacitor for a few quid and it’s hard to go wrong.

I might make a new thread as I’m feeling smug my charger worked first time 😉

Lots of drilling, would be my approach. Drill a big hole through the middle, mangle sfn.

Militant_biker – cheers i kinda new i was talking nonsense, cheers for the pic! 🙂

I’m not planning anything complicated at first but I really like the idea of putting the circuitry and capacitors in the steer where they can’t be seen.
Martin’s circuits seem to be the best starting place.

I hate it when people say bash the living daylights out of it in order to solve a metalwork problem. It may be a little bit late, but just in case someone else happens along and see’s this thread, or they google it in which case they will get this as the first result anyway, but the sensible way to remove a star fangled nut without any serious bashing of anything and maybe cause any possibility of damage or distortion can be found at this web address

http://gearinches.com/blog/how-to/how-to-remove-a-star-nut

Quick and easy and no sweat and no damage.