Ideas for Removing Star Nut

[mmichel]

I need help figuring out a good way to get the star nut out of the bottom of my fork (the crown). I'm talking about the serrated sheet spring steel threaded doodad that is typically used to thread the preload bolt of your no thread headset into. I inserted a second star nut from the bottom to mount a fender to the bike for SM100 due to all the rain. The fender was terrible. I immediately took it back off. Now I can't get the star nut out. I can't come at it from the opposite direction because the stem star nut is on the other end.

Matt

[jabberwocky]

I need help figuring out a good way to get the star nut out of the bottom of my fork (the crown). I'm talking about the serrated sheet spring steel threaded doodad that is typically used to thread the preload bolt of your no thread headset into. I inserted a second star nut from the bottom to mount a fender to the bike for SM100 due to all the rain. The fender was terrible. I immediately took it back off. Now I can't get the star nut out. I can't come at it from the opposite direction because the stem star nut is on the other end.

MattI was gonna tell you to punch it out from the other side, but I see that isn't an option. Your best bet is probably to drill it out. Take a power drill with a decently sized bit and drill the center out of the star nut. With all the structural material gone you should be able to yank the remainder out with pliers. If you don't have a drill or bits, I would be happy to do it for you if you bring the bike by.

Here is an interesting method by someone on the MTBR forums: http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?p=1189999 I personally would just hit it with a 3/8" drill bit and rip the rest out, but perhaps the finesse method works better? ;)

[allroy]

quick way would be my choice, I would just pound them both out with a long screw driver and hammer then insert a new one and be done with it. good luck

I need help figuring out a good way to get the star nut out of the bottom of my fork (the crown). I'm talking about the serrated sheet spring steel threaded doodad that is typically used to thread the preload bolt of your no thread headset into. I inserted a second star nut from the bottom to mount a fender to the bike for SM100 due to all the rain. The fender was terrible. I immediately took it back off. Now I can't get the star nut out. I can't come at it from the opposite direction because the stem star nut is on the other end.

Matt

[jabberwocky]

quick way would be my choice, I would just pound them both out with a long screw driver and hammer then insert a new one and be done with it. good luckHe said he installed a second one from the bottom though. If he tried to pound either one through the fork, it would hit the other star nut at the other end. I'm not sure how easily you could push two star nuts out of the fork, especially since one will be going the wrong direction, but I bet it would be harder than just drilling the star nut out.

[CountZero]

As Jab suggested, use a power drill. Don't be afraid.

[saxman]

Is it possible to get at the star nut with a stem bolt? You could put a top cap on the bottom of the fork, run the stem bolt through the star nut and then crank the bolt with a breaker bar. It should drag the star nut back down to the bottom of the fork where you can pry it out with a screwdriver.

[Brizn]

Is it possible to get at the star nut with a stem bolt? You could put a top cap on the bottom of the fork, run the stem bolt through the star nut and then crank the bolt with a breaker bar. It should drag the star nut back down to the bottom of the fork where you can pry it out with a screwdriver.Yea, kinda like a crank remover maybe? Flip the bike, put a HS spacer and top cap on the bottom of the crown, thread HS bolt in and tighten it until it pulls the star nut right out..

[glader60]

Use a slide hammer like the type for pulling a car axle bearing.

[jabberwocky]

Yea, kinda like a crank remover maybe? Flip the bike, put a HS spacer and top cap on the bottom of the crown, thread HS bolt in and tighten it until it pulls the star nut right out..It depends on how well it was installed and what the steerer is made of. If the steerer is something soft (aluminum) and the star nut was installed correctly, there is no way this will work. Pulling on the star nut would cause the "wings" to expand and bite into the softer metal of the steer tube. The harder you pull, the more they would dig in.

If its a steel steer tube and the nut was installed haphazardly (i.e. not straight), it may be possible to yank it out. Worth a try, at least. If it takes so much force you need a breaker bar to turn the screw though, I would stop and try something else.

[mmichel]

Folks,

Thanks for all the ideas. I'll start simple and get more complicated as the situation dictates. I'll let everyone know how it goes. Keep the ideas coming if any more are out there.

Matt

[halfinch]

um,
why not leave it and take a headset cap and bolt and use it to block off the underside of the steerer tube to keep mud and stuff out? weight wise, it shouldn't kill ya.

[allroy]

tap the top starnut so it turns sideways, you'll then be able to knock the bottom on out, yes even upside down, once the bottom one is out go for the top one. It would probably take 3 minutes total to do. margin of error +/- 5 sec. I've always opted to bang it out since I can be done with it in the time it would take to get the drill, plug it in, put in the correct bit... plus you get to hit something!

He said he installed a second one from the bottom though. If he tried to pound either one through the fork, it would hit the other star nut at the other end. I'm not sure how easily you could push two star nuts out of the fork, especially since one will be going the wrong direction, but I bet it would be harder than just drilling the star nut out.

[drevil]

Folks,

Thanks for all the ideas. I'll start simple and get more complicated as the situation dictates. I'll let everyone know how it goes. Keep the ideas coming if any more are out there.

Matt
How about an M-80 (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4465370887002619698&q=m-80)? If that doesn't work, I'd just put a headset cap on it and wrench on it. I've seen a few collapsed/crumpled ones before where the people just kept turning and turning and it'd eventually pull out.

[Nick]

Make sure you don't place your fork ends on the floor when whacking at the star nut (and headset race) to not damage or crack the ends. Especially with a suspension fork.
I have a 2x4 with a cut out at one end that I use to brace the crown when whanging away.