Steerer Tube Extender – What epoxy would you use?

Hey all,

I’m not entirely happy with the length of the steerer on my “new to me” road bike. The stem bolt sits just above the top of the steerer:

So I’ve bought a steerer extension:
Steerer Tube Extender

It states “We recommend to epoxy bond them into your steerer tube for best security”.

Which epoxy would you recommend?

Thanks!

😳😳😳

New forks I think I’d fit.

Try this

I did similar a few years ago, and used a slightly flexible metal epoxy.
It worked ok.

Cheers @dovebiker

It’s an ex pro bike so it’s been run like this, I’m just being extra cautious. 🙂

I had to do something similar to this on my 1.5″ steerer Cannondale Hooligan city bike a few years back. I used a steerer extender kit similar to this, plus some custom-bodged aluminium shims and Chemical Metal.

I’ve jumped off kerbs with it. It’s been absolutely bomber for the past 5 years.

I wouldn’t bother with epoxy. It has an expansion sleeve already and a stem bolt to compress. I would be more concerned about over tightening and causing the steerer tube to buldge (if carbon). Changing forks becomes a pain. Ask me how I know. I’ll probably get the same for my recent purchase that is set up the Same as yours.

Hi @tired long time! Interesting you’d do without. I guess I’m just being over cautious then… 6nm and a long bung should hold it. It’s just to give the stem a little more bite.

I’ve actually got two sets of forks for this and two sets of handlebars as I mashed the first bars (pictured) lol.

@no_eyed_deer

Don’t suppose you could give me a quick axle to crown on the Hooligan forks could you? Thanks

I have that same extender and just used some fairly cheap epoxy from B&Q. I had no intention of using it in other forks so was more than happy to have a permanent solution. It’s on my most used bike and has given no trouble whatsoever, enabling me to use some decent forks that were otherwise a write-off

Steerer tube is above the top bolt so no concerns there. However, as said above, I’d be more concerned over the stem pinching the steerer if its carbon or thin walled, use a bung.

As above, it seems the top bolt is just below the top of the steerer, if so that’s ok.

However, the stem looks quite tall, it might be an option to get a low stack stem that doesn’t need so much steerer… Especially considering the price of that extender.

I’d be using this stuff if I were you it’s used across motorsport and sailing and as it turns out bikes, for bonding metal to carbon for hulls etc. It was the manufacturer prescribed fix for when the frame inserts – for bearings – in my frame came lose from the factory.

You’ll only need the 25ml one, but definitely do it in a well ventilated area as it bloody stinks!!

However, the stem looks quite tall, it might be an option to get a low stack stem that doesn’t need so much steerer… Especially considering the price of that extender

Looks like a one piece bar / stem, combo to me.

Can you not remove the spacer to give you an extra 5mm of stem?

– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYcUW5toZw8 –

VM100 has 2 votes, I’ll pickup a tub thanks @steve_b77

No spacers involved @tpbiker 🙂

@paton ah that’s reassuring then thanks!

It’s a combined bar/stem and I’m using no spacers, it’s for crit racing so it’s nice and low ha.

@thepodge sure… will do after work, laters.

@thepodge axle to crown is 365mm on the Hooligan.

Cheers for that, been searching for ages, all the geo charts list everything except that.

I’ve jumped off kerbs with it

It’s an aptly named bike then! Wild 😀

I wonder if the £58 is really any better the £13 one on Amazon ?

If you’ve got a alu steerer, it would surely be better to use the star-fangled nut for holding the extender on than gluing a bung type?

If you’ve got a alu steerer, it would surely be better to use the star-fangled nut for holding the extender on than gluing a bung type?

Does the extender not also function as the star nut? That’s how it looks to me.

Does the extender not also function as the star nut? That’s how it looks to me.

It has to for a carbon steerer, but no need for an alloy one. However the compression sleeve will give a better purchase in both, and epoxy an even stronger bond. But in principle a fancy extension tube will also work for an alloy steerer with just a star nut.

My bigger steerer tube problem is the bulging from over clamping by a previous owner that means I can’t take the headset shim off and change the forks. This is for a Campag Record headset (so don’t say bash it!), so I too will use an extender. The alternative is to move the shim up and cut the forks off at the steerer crown interface. That seems like a heresy for a full carbon fork with mudguard eyelets (not exactly common and I have a replacement too).

Arrived along with the glue.

I can’t believe they were £58 but at least they’re engineered well. Also it’ll save me having to buy brand new forks and getting them painted to match I guess!

Will report back once fitted & glued.

Make sure you wipe down the surfaces with IPA or similar to remove dust and grease.

I’d bring it inside to somewhere warm also. You’ll get much better result with the glue.

It will likely go hard pretty quick but I’d check what the time to full strength is before any testing. It might be as long as 48h. Normally they quote at 25C and I’m guessing where you are working is cooler than that. 15C could be twice as long!

What glue did the use in the end. Based on my experience I’d have gone with UHU Endfest. It came out best in tests I ran at work. I wouldn’t go for an MMA if the manufacture recommends epoxy. You might be ok but you would not have an appreciation of why they made the recommendation in the first instance. Epoxy is typically stronger but that’s a massive generalisation.

I plopped the extended 18mm plug in and tightened down and it’s fine. One stem bolt on the carbon and one on the plug. Can’t see the need for epoxy as well.

Will ride it properly tomorrow and post if I don’t die 😉

I went for Vudu Glu VM100. They didn’t list a specific glue as they said any generic would do, but I wanted to do it right first time lol.

Might try without first then see what happens. As per my original picture it’s mainly clamping on carbon at the top anyway.

Good luck @tired

So were you ok, @TiRed?

Well, he didn’t list the stem extender in the breaking things thread.

https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/what-was-the-last-thing-you-broke-2/page/2/#post-12914046

Good to know!

It’s been fine. Without epoxy. I’d like to swap to some lighter Ritchey forks I have, but the last owner has caused a bulge and in the carbon steerer, and since it’s a Campag Record headset, I don’t really want to bash the fork out! Nor just cut the steerer and throw away perfectly good carbon forks (that have mudguard eyelets). So I’ve ridden it as is. And it’s been unnoticeable.

Thanks for the update @TiRed! I have the extender on the way so I was looking for some secondhand opinion on using it non-permanently.

Given the bulging on the carbon steerer tube, I wasn’t shy torquing it up. It’s a decent piece of kit. Probably expensive, but cheaper than new forks were one to cut first and measure later.